Peptide oligonucleotide conjugates

ABSTRACT

Oligonucleotide analogs conjugated to carrier peptides are provided. The disclosed compounds are useful for the treatment of various diseases, for example diseases where inhibition of protein expression or correction of aberrant mRNA splice products produces beneficial therapeutic effects.

STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is provided intext format in lieu of a paper copy, and is hereby incorporated byreference into the specification. The name of the text file containingthe Sequence Listing is 120178_495D1_SEQUENCE LISTING.txt. The text fileis 226 KB, was created on Apr. 28, 2016, and is being submittedelectronically via EFS-Web.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/101,942 filed on May 5, 2011 and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/107,528 filed on May 13, 2011, whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention is generally related to oligonucleotide compounds(oligomers) useful as antisense compounds, and more particularly tooligomer compounds conjugated to cell-penetrating peptides, and the useof such oligomer compounds in antisense applications.

Description of the Related Art

The practical utility of many drugs having potentially useful biologicalactivity is often stymied by difficulty in delivering such drugs totheir targets. Compounds to be delivered into cells must generally bedelivered from a largely aqueous extracellular environment and thenpenetrate a lipophilic cell membrane to gain entry to the cell. Unlessthe substance is actively transported by a specific transport mechanism,many molecules, particularly large molecules, are either too lipophilicfor practical solubilization or are too hydrophilic to penetrate themembrane.

A segment of the HIV Tat protein consisting of amino acid residues 49-57(Tat 49 57, having the sequence RKKRRQRRR (SEQ ID NO: 57)) has been usedto deliver biologically active peptides and proteins to cells (e.g.Barsoum et al., 1994, PCT Pubn. No. WO 94/04686). Tat (49 60) has beenused to enhance delivery of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides(Astriab-Fisher, Sergueev et al. 2000; Astriab-Fisher, Sergueev et al.2002). Reverse Tat, or rTat(57-49) (RRRQRRKKR) (SEQ ID NO: 56), has beenreported to deliver fluorescein into cells with enhanced efficacycompared to Tat (49 57) (Wender, Mitchell et al. 2000; Rothbard, Kreideret al. 2002). Rothbard and Wender have also disclosed otherarginine-rich transport polymers (PCT Pubn. No. WO 01/62297; U.S. Pat.No. 6,306,993; US Patent Appn. Pubn. No. 2003/0032593).

Oligonucleotides are one class of potentially useful drug compoundswhose delivery has often been an impediment to therapeutic use.Phosphorodiamidate-linked morpholino oligomers (PMOs; see e.g. Summertonand Weller, 1997) have been found more promising in this regard thancharged oligonucleotide analogs such as phosphorothioates. The PMOs arewater-soluble, uncharged or substantially uncharged antisense moleculesthat inhibit gene expression by preventing binding or progression ofsplicing or translational machinery components. PMOs have also been toshown to inhibit or block viral replication (Stein, Skilling et al.2001; McCaffrey, Meuse et al. 2003). They are highly resistant toenzymatic digestion (Hudziak, Barofsky et al. 1996). PMOs havedemonstrated high antisense specificity and efficacy in vitro incell-free and cell culture models (Stein, Foster et al. 1997; Summertonand Weller 1997), and in vivo in zebrafish, frog and sea urchin embryos(Heasman, Kofron et al. 2000; Nasevicius and Ekker 2000), as well as inadult animal models, such as rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, and pigs (seee.g. Arora and Iversen 2000; Qin, Taylor et al. 2000; Iversen 2001;Kipshidze, Keane et al. 2001; Devi 2002; Devi, Oldenkamp et al. 2002;Kipshidze, Kim et al. 2002; Ricker, Mata et al. 2002).

Antisense PMO oligomers have been shown to be taken up into cells and tobe more consistently effective in vivo, with fewer nonspecific effects,than other widely used antisense oligonucleotides (see e.g. P. Iversen,“Phosphoramidite Morpholino Oligomers”, in Antisense Drug Technology, S.T. Crooke, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 2001). Conjugation ofPMOs to arginine rich peptides has been shown to increase their cellularuptake (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,468,418); however, the toxicity of theconjugates has slowed their development as viable drug candidates.

Although significant progress has been made, there remains a need in theart for oligonucleotide conjugates with improved antisense or antigeneperformance. Such improved antisense or antigene performance includes;lower toxicity, stronger affinity for DNA and RNA without compromisingsequence selectivity; improved pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution;improved cellular delivery and reliable and controllable in vivodistribution.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Compounds of the present invention address these issues and provideimprovements over existing antisense molecules in the art. By linking acell-penetrating peptide to a substantially uncharged nucleic acidanalogue via a glycine or proline amino acid, the present inventors haveaddressed the toxicity issues associated with other peptide oligomerconjugates. Furthermore, modification of the intersubunit linkagesand/or conjugation of terminal moieties to the 5′ and/or 3′ terminus ofan oligonucleotide analogue, for example a morpholino oligonucleotide,may also improve the properties of the conjugates. For example, incertain embodiments the disclosed conjugates have decreased toxicityand/or enhanced cell delivery, potency, and/or tissue distributioncompared to other oligonucleotide analogues and/or can be moreeffectively delivered to the target organs. These superior propertiesgive rise to favorable therapeutic indices, reduced clinical dosing, andlower cost of goods.

Accordingly, in one embodiment the present disclosure provides aconjugate comprising:

-   -   (a) a carrier peptide comprising amino acid subunits; and    -   (b) a nucleic acid analogue comprising a substantially uncharged        backbone and a targeting base sequence for sequence-specific        binding to a target nucleic acid;        wherein:

two or more of the amino acid subunits are positively charged aminoacids, the carrier peptide comprises a glycine (G) or proline (P) aminoacid at a carboxy terminus of the carrier peptide, and the carrierpeptide is covalently attached to the nucleic acid analogue. Acomposition comprising the above conjugate and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable vehicle are also provided.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method ofinhibiting production of a protein, the method comprising exposing anucleic acid encoding the protein to a conjugate of the presentdisclosure.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method for enhancingthe transport of a nucleic acid analogue into a cell, the methodcomprising conjugating the carrier peptide of claim 1 to a nucleic acidanalogue, and wherein the transport of the nucleic acid analogue intothe cell is enhanced relative to the nucleic acid analogue inunconjugated form.

In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method oftreating a disease in a subject, the method comprising administering atherapeutically effective amount of a disclosed conjugate to thesubject. Methods of making the conjugates, methods for their use andcarrier peptides useful for conjugating to nucleic acid analogues arealso provided.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent upon referenceto the following detailed description. To this end, various referencesare set forth herein which describe in more detail certain backgroundinformation, procedures, compounds and/or compositions, and are eachhereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary morpholino oligomer structure comprising aphosphorodiamidate linkage.

FIG. 1B shows a morpholino oligomer conjugated to a carrier peptide atthe 5′ end.

FIG. 1C shows a morpholino oligomer conjugated to a carrier peptide atthe 3′ end.

FIGS. 1D-G show the repeating subunit segment of exemplary morpholinooligonucleotides, designated 1D through 1G.

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary intersubunit linkages linked to a morpholino −Tmoiety.

FIG. 3 is a reaction scheme showing preparation of a linker forsolid-phase synthesis.

FIG. 4 demonstrates preparation of a solid support for oligomersynthesis.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show exon skipping data for exemplary conjugatescompared to a known conjugate in mouse quadriceps, diaphragm and heart,respectively.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are alternate representations of exon skipping datafor exemplary conjugates compared to a known conjugate in mousequadriceps, diaphragm and heart, respectively.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphs depicting blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levelsand survival rate of mice treated with various peptide-oligomerconjugates, respectively.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show kidney injury marker (KIM) data and Clusterin (Clu)data for mice treated with various peptide-oligomer conjugates,respectively.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are graphs comparing the exon skipping, BUNlevels, percent survival and KIM levels, respectively, in mice treatedwith an exemplary conjugate compared to a known conjugate.

FIG. 10 presents KIM data for mice treated with various conjugates.

FIG. 11 shows results of BUN analysis of mice treated with variousconjugates.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the concentration of various oligomers inmouse kidney tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Definitions

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments.However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention maybe practiced without these details. In other instances, well-knownstructures have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. Unless thecontext requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claimswhich follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as,“comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusivesense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” Further, headingsprovided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scopeor meaning of the claimed invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Also, as used in thisspecification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictatesotherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generallyemployed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearlydictates otherwise.

The terms below, as used herein, have the following meanings, unlessindicated otherwise:

“Amino” refers to the —NH₂ radical.

“Cyano” or “nitrile” refers to the —CN radical.

“Hydroxy” or “hydroxyl” refers to the —OH radical.

“Imino” refers to the ═NH substituent.

“Guanidinyl” refers to the —NHC(═NH)NH₂ substituent.

“Amidinyl” refers to the —C(═NH)NH₂ substituent.

“Nitro” refers to the —NO₂ radical.

“Oxo” refers to the ═O substituent.

“Thioxo” refers to the ═S substituent.

“Cholate” refers to the following structure:

“Deoxycholate” refers to the following structure:

“Alkyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical whichis saturated or unsaturated (i.e., contains one or more double and/ortriple bonds), having from one to thirty carbon atoms, and which isattached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond. Alkyls comprisingany number of carbon atoms from 1 to 30 are included. An alkylcomprising up to 30 carbon atoms is refereed to as a C₁-C₃₀ alkyl,likewise, for example, an alkyl comprising up to 12 carbon atoms is aC₁-C₁₂ alkyl. Alkyls (and other moieties defined herein) comprisingother numbers of carbon atoms are represented similarity. Alkyl groupsinclude, but are not limited to, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₅alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₃ alkyl,C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkyl and C₄-C₈ alkyl. Representativealkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,1-methylethyl (iso-propyl), n-butyl, butyl, s-butyl, n-pentyl,1,1-dimethylethyl (t-butyl), 3-methylhexyl, 2-methylhexyl, ethenyl,prop-1-enyl, but-1-enyl, pent-1-enyl, penta-1,4-dienyl, ethynyl,propynyl, but-2-ynyl, but-3-ynyl, peptynyl, hexynyl, and the like.Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkylgroup may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkylene” or “alkylene chain” refers to a straight or branched divalenthydrocarbon chain linking the rest of the molecule to a radical group.Alkylenes may be saturated or unsaturated (i.e., contains one or moredouble and/or triple bonds). Representative alkylenes include, but arenot limited to, C₁-C₁₂ alkylene, C₁-C₈ alkylene, C₁-C₆ alkylene, C₁-C₄alkylene, C₁-C₃ alkylene, C₁-C₂ alkylene, C₁ alkylene. Representativealkylene groups include, but are not limited to, methylene, ethylene,propylene, n-butylene, ethenylene, propenylene, n-butenylene,propynylene, n-butynylene, and the like. The alkylene chain is attachedto the rest of the molecule through a single or double bond and to theradical group through a single or double bond. The points of attachmentof the alkylene chain to the rest of the molecule and to the radicalgroup can be through one carbon or any two carbons within the chain.Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkylenechain may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkoxy” refers to a radical of the formula —OR_(a) where R_(a) is analkyl radical as defined. Unless stated otherwise specifically in thespecification, an alkoxy group may be optionally substituted asdescribed below.

“Alkoxyalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)OR_(a) whereR_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined and where R_(b) is an alkyleneradical as defined. Unless stated otherwise specifically in thespecification, an alkoxyalkyl group may be optionally substituted asdescribed below.

“Alkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(a) whereR_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwisespecifically in the specification, an alkylcarbonyl group may beoptionally substituted as described below.

“Alkyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR_(a) whereR_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined. Unless stated otherwisespecifically in the specification, an alkyloxycarbonyl group may beoptionally substituted as described below.

“Alkylamino” refers to a radical of the formula —NHR_(a) or —NR_(a)R_(a)where each R_(a) is, independently, an alkyl radical as defined above.Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkylaminogroup may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Amidyl” refers to a radical of the formula —N(H)C(═O)R_(a) where R_(a)is an alkyl or aryl radical as defined herein. Unless stated otherwisespecifically in the specification, an amidyl group may be optionallysubstituted as described below.

“Amidinylalkyl” refers a radical of the formula —R_(b)— C(═NH)NH₂ whereR_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwisespecifically in the specification, an amidinylalkyl group may beoptionally substituted as described below.

“Amidinylalkylcarbonyl” refers a radical of the formula—C(═O)R_(b)—C(═NH)NH₂ where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as definedabove. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, anamidinylalkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted as describedbelow.

“Aminoalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)—NR_(a)R_(a) whereR_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above, and each R_(a) isindependently a hydrogen or an alkyl radical.

“Thioalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —SR_(a) where R_(a) is analkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically inthe specification, a thioalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aryl” refers to a radical derived from a hydrocarbon ring systemcomprising hydrogen, 6 to 30 carbon atoms and at least one aromaticring. The aryl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic ortetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ringsystems. Aryl radicals include, but are not limited to, aryl radicalsderived from the hydrocarbon ring systems of aceanthrylene,acenaphthylene, acephenanthrylene, anthracene, azulene, benzene,chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, as-indacene, s-indacene, indane,indene, naphthalene, phenalene, phenanthrene, pleiadene, pyrene, andtriphenylene. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification,the term “aryl” or the prefix “ar-” (such as in “aralkyl”) is meant toinclude aryl radicals that are optionally substituted.

“Aralkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)—R_(c) where R_(b) isan alkylene chain as defined above and R_(c) is one or more arylradicals as defined above, for example, benzyl, diphenylmethyl, trityland the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification,an aralkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Arylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(c) whereR_(c) is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example,phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, anarylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aryloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR_(c) whereR_(c) is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example,phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, anaryloxycarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aralkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(b)—R_(c)where R_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above and R_(c) is one ormore aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unless statedotherwise specifically in the specification, an aralkylcarbonyl groupmay be optionally substituted.

“Aralkyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula—C(═O)OR_(b)—R_(c) where R_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above andR_(c) is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example,phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, anaralkyloxycarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aryloxy” refers to a radical of the formula —OR_(c) where R_(c) is oneor more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unlessstated otherwise specifically in the specification, an arylcarbonylgroup may be optionally substituted.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a stable, non-aromatic, monocyclic or polycycliccarbocyclic ring, which may include fused or bridged ring systems, whichis saturated or unsaturated, and attached to the rest of the molecule bya single bond. Representative cycloalkyls include, but are not limitedto, cycloaklyls having from three to fifteen carbon atoms and from threeto eight carbon atoms, Monocyclic cycicoalkyl radicals include, forexample, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl,and cyclooctyl. Polycyclic radicals include, for example, adamantyl,norbornyl, decalinyl, and 7,7-dimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanyl. Unlessotherwise stated specifically in the specification, a cycloalkyl groupmay be optionally substituted.

“Cycloalkylalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)R_(d) whereR_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above and R_(d) is a cycloalkylradical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in thespecification, a cycloalkylalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Cycloalkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(d)where R_(d) is a cycloalkyl radical as defined above. Unless statedotherwise specifically in the specification, a cycloalkylcarbonyl groupmay be optionally substituted.

Cycloalkyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR_(d)where R_(d) is a cycloalkyl radical as defined above. Unless statedotherwise specifically in the specification, a cycloalkyloxycarbonylgroup may be optionally substituted.

“Fused” refers to any ring structure described herein which is fused toan existing ring structure. When the fused ring is a heterocyclyl ringor a heteroaryl ring, any carbon atom on the existing ring structurewhich becomes part of the fused heterocyclyl ring or the fusedheteroaryl ring may be replaced with a nitrogen atom.

“Guanidinylalkyl” refers a radical of the formula —R_(b)—NHC(═NH)NH₂where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above. Unless statedotherwise specifically in the specification, a guanidinylalkyl group maybe optionally substituted as described below.

“Guanidinylalkylcarbonyl” refers a radical of the formula—C(═O)R_(b)—NHC(═NH)NH₂ where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as definedabove. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, aguanidinylalkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted as describedbelow.

“Halo” or “halogen” refers to bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo.

“Haloalkyl” refers to an alkyl radical, as defined above, that issubstituted by one or more halo radicals, as defined above, e.g.,trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl, trichloromethyl,2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1,2-difluoroethyl, 3-bromo-2-fluoropropyl,1,2-dibromoethyl, and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically inthe specification, a haloalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Perhalo” or “perfluoro” refers to a moiety in which each hydrogen atomhas been replaced by a halo atom or fluorine atom, respectively.

“Heterocyclyl”, “heterocycle” or “heterocyclic ring” refers to a stable3- to 24-membered non-aromatic ring radical comprising 2 to 23 carbonatoms and from one to 8 heteroatoms selected from the group consistingof nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur. Unless stated otherwisespecifically in the specification, the heterocyclyl radical may be amonocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which mayinclude fused or bridged ring systems; and the nitrogen, carbon orsulfur atoms in the heterocyclyl radical may be optionally oxidized; thenitrogen atom may be optionally quaternized; and the heterocyclylradical may be partially or fully saturated. Examples of suchheterocyclyl radicals include, but are not limited to, dioxolanyl,thienyl[1,3]dithianyl, decahydroisoquinolyl, imidazolinyl,imidazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl,octahydroindolyl, octahydroisoindolyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl,2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, piperidinyl,piperazinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl,thiazolidinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, trithianyl, tetrahydropyranyl,thiomorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl,1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl, 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6,21-crown-7, aza-18-crown-6, diaza-18-crown-6, aza-21-crown-7, anddiaza-21-crown-7. Unless stated otherwise specifically in thespecification, a heterocyclyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Heteroaryl” refers to a 5- to 14-membered ring system radicalcomprising hydrogen atoms, one to thirteen carbon atoms, one to sixheteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen,phosphorous and sulfur, and at least one aromatic ring. For purposes ofthis invention, the heteroaryl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic,tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridgedring systems; and the nitrogen, carbon or sulfur atoms in the heteroarylradical may be optionally oxidized; the nitrogen atom may be optionallyquaternized. Examples include, but are not limited to, azepinyl,acridinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzindolyl, benzodioxolyl,benzofuranyl, benzooxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl,benzo[b][1,4]dioxepinyl, 1,4-benzodioxanyl, benzonaphthofuranyl,benzoxazolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzodioxinyl, benzopyranyl,benzopyranonyl, benzofuranyl, benzofuranonyl, benzothienyl(benzothiophenyl), benzotriazolyl, benzo[4,6]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl,carbazolyl, cinnolinyl, dibenzofuranyl, dibenzothiophenyl, furanyl,furanonyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl,isoindolyl, indolinyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolyl, indolizinyl,isoxazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxoazepinyl, oxazolyl,oxiranyl, 1-oxidopyridinyl, 1-oxidopyrimidinyl, 1-oxidopyrazinyl,1-oxidopyridazinyl, 1-phenyl-1H-pyrrolyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl,phenoxazinyl, phthalazinyl, pteridinyl, purinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl,pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, quinazolinyl,quinoxalinyl, quinolinyl, quinuclidinyl, isoquinolinyl,tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl,triazinyl, and thiophenyl (i.e., thienyl). Unless stated otherwisespecifically in the specification, a heteroaryl group may be optionallysubstituted.

All the above groups may be either substituted or unsubstituted. Theterm “substituted” as used herein means any of the above groups (i.e.,alkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkyloxycarbonyl,alkylamino, amidyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl, aminoalkyl,aryl, aralkyl, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, aralkylcarbonyl,aralkyloxycarbonyl, aryloxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,cycloalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl,guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl and/orheteroaryl), may be further functionalized wherein at least one hydrogenatom is replaced by a bond to a non-hydrogen atom substituent. Unlessstated specifically in the specification, a substituted group mayinclude one or more substituents selected from: oxo, —CO₂H, nitrile,nitro, —CONH₂, hydroxyl, thiooxy, alkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl,alkylcarbonyl, alkyloxycarbonyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylcarbonyl,aryloxycarbonyl, aralkylcarbonyl, aralkyloxycarbonyl, aryloxy,cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylcarbonyl,cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, heterocyclyl,heteroaryl, dialkylamines, arylamines, alkylarylamines, diarylamines,N-oxides, imides, and enamines; a silicon atom in groups such astrialkylsilyl groups, dialkylarylsilyl groups, alkyldiarylsilyl groups,triarylsilyl groups, perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkoxy, for example,trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy. “Substituted” also means any of theabove groups in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by ahigher-order bond (e.g., a double- or triple-bond) to a heteroatom suchas oxygen in oxo, carbonyl, carboxyl, and ester groups; and nitrogen ingroups such as imines, oximes, hydrazones, and nitriles. For example,“substituted” includes any of the above groups in which one or morehydrogen atoms are replaced with —NR_(g)C(═O)NR_(g)R_(h),—NR_(g)C(═O)OR_(h), —NR_(g)SO₂R_(h), —OC(═O)NR_(g)R_(h), —OR_(g),—SR_(g), —SOR_(B), —SO₂R_(g), —OSO₂R_(g), —SO₂OR_(g), ═NSO₂R_(g), and—SO₂NR_(g)R_(h). “Substituted” also means any of the above groups inwhich one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced with —C(═O)R_(g),—C(═O)OR_(g), —CH₂SO₂R_(g), —CH₂SO₂NR_(g)R_(h), —SH, —SR_(g) or—SSR_(g). In the foregoing, R_(g) and R_(h) are the same or differentand independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, thioalkyl, aryl,aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl,N-heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, N-heteroaryl and/orheteroarylalkyl. In addition, each of the foregoing substituents mayalso be optionally substituted with one or more of the abovesubstituents. Furthermore, any of the above groups may be substituted toinclude one or more internal oxygen or sulfur atoms. For example, analkyl group may be substituted with one or more internal oxygen atoms toform an ether or polyether group. Similarly, an alkyl group may besubstituted with one or more internal sulfur atoms to form a thioether,disulfide, etc. Amidyl moieties may be substituted with up to 2 haloatoms, while other groups above may be substituted with one or more haloatoms. Any of the above groups may also be substituted with amino,monoalklyamino, guanidinyl or amidynyl. Optional substitutents for anyof the above groups also include arylphosphoryl, for example—R_(a)P(Ar)₃ wherein R_(a) is an alkylene and Ar is aryl moiety, forexample phenyl.

The terms “antisense oligomer” or “antisense compound” are usedinterchangeably and refer to a sequence of subunits, each having a basecarried on a backbone subunit composed of ribose or other pentose sugaror morpholino group, and where the backbone groups are linked byintersubunit linkages that allow the bases in the compound to hybridizeto a target sequence in a nucleic acid (typically an RNA) byWatson-Crick base pairing, to form a nucleic acid:oligomer heteroduplexwithin the target sequence. The oligomer may have exact sequencecomplementarity to the target sequence or near complementarity. Suchantisense oligomers are designed to block or inhibit translation of themRNA containing the target sequence, and may be said to be “directed to”a sequence with which it hybridizes.

A “morpholino oligomer” or “PMO” refers to a polymeric molecule having abackbone which supports bases capable of hydrogen bonding to typicalpolynucleotides, wherein the polymer lacks a pentose sugar backbonemoiety, and more specifically a ribose backbone linked by phosphodiesterbonds which is typical of nucleotides and nucleosides, but insteadcontains a ring nitrogen with coupling through the ring nitrogen. Anexemplary“morpholino” oligomer comprises morpholino subunit structureslinked together by (thio)phosphoramidate or (thio)phosphorodiamidatelinkages, joining the morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to the 5′exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, each subunit comprising apurine or pyrimidine base-pairing moiety effective to bind, bybase-specific hydrogen bonding, to a base in a polynucleotide.Morpholino oligomers (including antisense oligomers) are detailed, forexample, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,685; 5,217,866; 5,142,047; 5,034,506;5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,521,063; 5,506,337 and pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. Nos. 12/271,036; 12/271,040; and PCT publication numberWO/2009/064471 all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. Representative PMOs include PMOs wherin the intersubunitlinkages are linkage (A1).

“PMO+” refers to phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers comprising anynumber of (1-piperazino)phosphinylideneoxy,(1-(4-(ω-guanidino-alkanoyl))-piperazino)phosphinylideneoxy linkages (A2and A3) that have been described previously (see e.g., PCT publicationWO/2008/036127 which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

“PMO-X” refers to phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers disclosedherein comprising at least one (B) linkage or at least one of thedisclosed terminal modifications.

A “phosphoramidate” group comprises phosphorus having three attachedoxygen atoms and one attached nitrogen atom, while a“phosphorodiamidate” group (see e.g., FIGS. 1D-E) comprises phosphorushaving two attached oxygen atoms and two attached nitrogen atoms. In theuncharged or the modified intersubunit linkages of the oligomersdescribed herein and U.S. Patent Application No. 61/349,783 and Ser. No.11/801,885, one nitrogen is always pendant to the backbone chain. Thesecond nitrogen, in a phosphorodiamidate linkage, is typically the ringnitrogen in a morpholino ring structure.

“Thiophosphoramidate” or “thiophosphorodiamidate” linkages arephosphoramidate or phosphorodiamidate linkages, respectively, whereinone oxygen atom, typically the oxygen pendant to the backbone, isreplaced with sulfur.

“Intersubunit linkage” refers to the linkage connecting two morpholinosubunits, for example structure (I).

“Charged”, “uncharged”, “cationic” and “anionic” as used herein refer tothe predominant state of a chemical moiety at near-neutral pH, e.g.,about 6 to 8. For example, the term may refer to the predominant stateof the chemical moiety at physiological pH, that is, about 7.4.

“Lower alkyl” refers to an alkyl radical of one to six carbon atoms, asexemplified by methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, t-butyl, isoamyl,n-pentyl, and isopentyl. In certain embodiments, a “lower alkyl” grouphas one to four carbon atoms. In other embodiments a “lower alkyl” grouphas one to two carbon atoms; i.e. methyl or ethyl. Analogously, “loweralkenyl” refers to an alkenyl radical of two to six, preferably three orfour, carbon atoms, as exemplified by allyl and butenyl.

A “non-interfering” substituent is one that does not adversely affectthe ability of an antisense oligomer as described herein to bind to itsintended target. Such substituents include small and/or relativelynon-polar groups such as methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, or fluoro.

An oligonucleotide or antisense oligomer “specifically hybridizes” to atarget polynucleotide if the oligomer hybridizes to the target underphysiological conditions, with a Tm greater than 37° C., greater than45° C., preferably at least 50° C., and typically 60° C.-80° C. orhigher. The “Tm” of an oligomer is the temperature at which 50%hybridizes to a complementary polynucleotide. Tm is determined understandard conditions in physiological saline, as described, for example,in Miyada et al., Methods Enzymol. 154:94-107 (1987). Such hybridizationmay occur with “near” or “substantial” complementary of the antisenseoligomer to the target sequence, as well as with exact complementarity.

Polynucleotides are described as “complementary” to one another whenhybridization occurs in an antiparallel configuration between twosingle-stranded polynucleotides. Complementarity (the degree that onepolynucleotide is complementary with another) is quantifiable in termsof the proportion of bases in opposing strands that are expected to formhydrogen bonds with each other, according to generally acceptedbase-pairing rules.

A first sequence is an “antisense sequence” with respect to a secondsequence if a polynucleotide whose sequence is the first sequencespecifically binds to, or specifically hybridizes with, the secondpolynucleotide sequence under physiological conditions.

The term “targeting sequence” is the sequence in the oligonucleotideanalog that is complementary (meaning, in addition, substantiallycomplementary) to the target sequence in the RNA genome. The entiresequence, or only a portion, of the analog compound may be complementaryto the target sequence. For example, in an analog having 20 bases, only12-14 may be targeting sequences. Typically, the targeting sequence isformed of contiguous bases in the analog, but may alternatively beformed of non-contiguous sequences that when placed together, e.g., fromopposite ends of the analog, constitute sequence that spans the targetsequence.

The “backbone” of an oligonucleotide analog (e.g., an unchargedoligonucleotide analogue) refers to the structure supporting thebase-pairing moieties; e.g., for a morpholino oligomer, as describedherein, the “backbone” includes morpholino ring structures connected byintersubunit linkages (e.g., phosphorus-containing linkages). A“substantially uncharged backbone” refers to the backbone of anoligonuceltoide analogue wherein less than 50% of the intersubunitlinkages are charged at near-neutral pH. For example, a substantiallyuncharged backbone may comprise less than 50%, less than 40%, less than30%, less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5% or even 0% intersubunitlinkages which are charged at near neutral pH. In some embodiments, thesubstantially uncharged backbone comprises at most one charged (atphysiological pH) intersubunit linkage for every four uncharged (atphysiological pH) linkages, at most one for every eight or at most onefor every sixteen uncharged linkages. In some embodiments, the nucleicacid analogs described herein are fully uncharged.

Target and targeting sequences are described as “complementary” to oneanother when hybridization occurs in an antiparallel configuration. Atargeting sequence may have “near” or “substantial” complementarity tothe target sequence and still function for the purpose of the presentlydescribed methods, that is, still be “complementary.” Preferably, theoligonucleotide analog compounds employed in the presently describedmethods have at most one mismatch with the target sequence per every 10nucleotides, and preferably at most one mismatch out of 20.Alternatively, the antisense oligomers employed have at least 80%, atleast 90% sequence homology or at least 95% sequence homology, with theexemplary targeting sequences as designated herein. For purposes ofcomplementary binding to an RNA target, and as discussed below, aguanine base may be complementary to either a cytosineor uracil RNAbase.

A “heteroduplex” refers to a duplex between an oligonculeotide analogand the complementary portion of a target RNA. A “nuclease-resistantheteroduplex” refers to a heteroduplex formed by the binding of anantisense oligomer to its complementary target, such that theheteroduplex is substantially resistant to in vivo degradation byintracellular and extracellular nucleases, such as RNAse H, which arecapable of cutting double-stranded RNA/RNA or RNA/DNA complexes.

An agent is “actively taken up by mammalian cells” when the agent canenter the cell by a mechanism other than passive diffusion across thecell membrane. The agent may be transported, for example, by “activetransport”, referring to transport of agents across a mammalian cellmembrane by e.g. an ATP-dependent transport mechanism, or by“facilitated transport”, referring to transport of antisense agentsacross the cell membrane by a transport mechanism that requires bindingof the agent to a transport protein, which then facilitates passage ofthe bound agent across the membrane.

The terms “modulating expression” and/or “antisense activity” refer tothe ability of an antisense oligomer to either enhance or, moretypically, reduce the expression of a given protein, by interfering withthe expression or translation of RNA. In the case of reduced proteinexpression, the antisense oligomer may directly block expression of agiven gene, or contribute to the accelerated breakdown of the RNAtranscribed from that gene. Morpholino oligomers as described herein arebelieved to act via the former (steric blocking) mechanism. Preferredantisense targets for steric blocking oligomers include the ATG startcodon region, splice sites, regions closely adjacent to splice sites,and 5′-untranslated region of mRNA, although other regions have beensuccessfully targeted using morpholino oligomers.

An “amino acid subunit” is generally an α-amino acid residue(—CO—CHR—NH—); but may also be a β- or other amino acid residue (e.g.—CO—CH₂CHR—NH—), where R is an amino acid side chain.

The term “naturally occurring amino acid” refers to an amino acidpresent in proteins found in nature. The term “non-natural amino acids”refers to those amino acids not present in proteins found in nature;examples include beta-alanine (β-Ala) and 6-aminohexanoic acid (Ahx).

An “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to anamount of antisense oligomer administered to a mammalian subject, eitheras a single dose or as part of a series of doses, which is effective toproduce a desired therapeutic effect, typically by inhibitingtranslation of a selected target nucleic acid sequence.

“Treatment” of an individual (e.g. a mammal, such as a human) or a cellis any type of intervention used in an attempt to alter the naturalcourse of the individual or cell. Treatment includes, but is not limitedto, administration of a pharmaceutical composition, and may be performedeither prophylactically or subsequent to the initiation of a pathologicevent or contact with an etiologic agent.

II. Carrier Peptides

A. Properties of the Carrier Peptide

As noted above, the present disclosure is directed to conjugates ofcarrier peptides and nucleic acid analogues. The carrier peptides aregenerally effective to enhance cell penetration of the nucleic acidanalogues. Furthermore, Applicants have surprisingly discovered thatincluding a glycine (G) or proline (P) amino acid subunit between thenucleic acid analogue and the remainder of the carrier peptide (e.g., atthe carboxy or amino terminus of the carrier peptide) reduces thetoxicity of the conjugate, while the efficacy remains the same or isimproved relative to conjugates with different linkages between thecarrier peptide and nucleic acid analogue. Thus the presently disclosedconjugates have a better therapeutic window and are more promising drugcandidates than other peptide-oligomer conjugates.

In addition to reduced toxicity, the presence of a glycine or prolineamino acid subunit between the nucleic acid analogue and the carrierpeptide is believed to provide additional advantages. For example,glycine is inexpensive and is easily coupled to the nucleic acidanalogue (or optional linker) without any possibility of racemization.Similarly, proline is easily coupled without racemization and alsoprovides carrier peptides which are not helix formers. Thehydrophobicity of proline may also confer certain advantages withrespect to interaction of the carrier peptide with the lipid bilayer ofcells, and carrier peptides comprising multiple prolines (for example incertain embodiments) may resist G-tetraplex formation. Finally, incertain embodiments, when the proline moiety is adjacent to an arginineamino acid subunit, the proline moiety confers metabolic to theconjugates since the argine-proline amide bond is not cleavable bycommon endopeptidases.

As noted above, conjugates comprising carrier peptides linked to nucleicacid analogues via a glycine or proline amino acid subunit have lowertoxicity and similar efficacy compared to other known conjugates.Experiments performed in support of the present application show thatkidney toxicity markers are much lower with the presently disclosedconjugates compared to other conjugates (see e.g., kidney injury marker(KIM) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) data described in Example 30). Whilenot wishing to be bound by theory, the present inventors believe thereduced toxicity of the disclosed conjugates may be related to theabsence of unnatural amino acids such as aminohexanoic acid or β-alaninein the portion of the peptide which is attached to the nucleic acidanalogue (e.g., the carboxy terminus). Since these unnatural amino acidsare not cleaved in vivo, it is believed that toxic concentrations of theuncleaved peptides may accumulate and cause toxic effects.

The glycine or proline moiety may be at either the amino or carboxyterminus of the carrier peptide, and in some instances, the carrierpeptide may be linked to the nucleic acid analogue directly via theglycine or proline subunit or the carrier peptide may be linked to thenucleic acid analogue via an optional linker.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a conjugatecomprising:

-   -   (a) a carrier peptide comprising amino acid subunits; and    -   (b) a nucleic acid analogue comprising a substantially uncharged        backbone and a targeting base sequence for sequence-specific        binding to a target nucleic acid;        wherein:

two or more of the amino acid subunits are positively charged aminoacids, the carrier peptide comprises a glycine (G) or proline (P) aminoacid subunit at a carboxy terminus of the carrier peptide and thecarrier peptide is covalently attached to the nucleic acid analogue. Insome embodiments, no more than seven contiguous amino acid subunits arearginine, for example 6 or fewer contiguous amino acid subunits arearginine. In some embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises a glycineamino acid subunit at the carboxy terminus. In other embodiments, thecarrier peptide comprises a proline amino acid subunit at the carboxyterminus. In still other embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises asingle glycine or proline at the carboxy terminus (i.e., does notcomprise a glycine or proline dimmer or trimer, etc. at the carboxyterminus).

In certain embodiments, the carrier peptide, when conjugated to anantisense oligomer having a substantially uncharged backbone, iseffective to enhance the binding of the antisense oligomer to its targetsequence, relative to the antisense oligomer in unconjugated form, asevidenced by:

-   -   (i) a decrease in expression of an encoded protein, relative to        that provided by the unconjugated oligomer, when binding of the        antisense oligomer to its target sequence is effective to block        a translation start codon for the encoded protein, or    -   (ii) an increase in expression of an encoded protein, relative        to that provided by the unconjugated oligomer, when binding of        the antisense oligomer to its target sequence is effective to        block an aberrant splice site in a pre-mRNA which encodes said        protein when correctly spliced. Assays suitable for measurement        of these effects are described further below. In one embodiment,        conjugation of the peptide provides this activity in a cell-free        translation assay, as described herein. In some embodiments,        activity is enhanced by a factor of at least two, a factor of at        least five or a factor of at least ten.

Alternatively or in addition, the carrier peptide is effective toenhance the transport of the nucleic acid analog into a cell, relativeto the analog in unconjugated form. In certain embodiments, transport isenhanced by a factor of at least two, a factor of at least two, a factorof at least five or a factor of at least ten.

In other embodiments, the carrier peptide is effective to decrease thetoxicity (i.e., increase maximum tolerated dose) of the conjugate,relative to a conjugate comprising a carrier peptide lacking theterminal glycine or proline amino subunits. In certain embodiments,toxicity is decreased by a factor of at least two, a factor of at leasttwo, a factor of at least five or a factor of at least ten.

A further benefit of the peptide transport moiety is its expectedability to stabilize a duplex between an antisense oligomer and itstarget nucleic acid sequence. While not wishing to be bound by theory,this ability to stabilize a duplex may result from the electrostaticinteraction between the positively charged transport moiety and thenegatively charged nucleic acid.

The length of the carrier peptide is not particularly limited and variesin different embodiments. In some embodiments, the carrier peptidecomprises from 4 to 40 amino acid subunits. In other embodiments, thecarrier peptide comprises from 6 to 30, from 6 to 20, from 8 to 25 orfrom 10 to 20 amino acid subunits. In some embodiments, the carrierpeptide is straight, while in other embodiments it is branched.

In some embodiments, the carrier peptides are rich in positively chargedamino acid subunits, for example arginine amino acid subunits. A carrierpeptide is “rich” in positively charged amino acids if at least 10% ofthe amino acid subunits are positively charged. For example, in someembodiments at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, atleast 60%, at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90% of the amino acidsubunits are positively charged. In even other embodiments, all theamino acid subunits, except the glycine or proline amino acid subunit,are positively charged. In still other embodiment, all of the positivelycharged amino acid subunits are arginine.

In other embodiments, the number of positively charged amino acidsubunits in the carrier peptide ranges from 1 to 20, for example from 1to 10 or from 1 to 6. In certain embodiments, the number of positivelycharged amino acids in the carrier peptide is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20.

The positively charged amino acids can be naturally occurring,non-naturally occurring, synthetic, modified or analogues of naturallyoccurring amino acids. For instance, modified amino acids with a netpositive charge may be specifically designed for use in the invention asdescribed in more detail below. A number of different types ofmodification to amino acids are well known in the art. In certainembodiments, the positively charged amino acids are histidine (H),lysine (K) or arginine (R). In other embodiments, the carrier peptidecomprises only natural amino acid subunits (i.e., does not containunnatural amino acids). In other embodiments, the terminal amino acidsmay be capped, for example with an acetyl, benzoyl or stearyl moiety,for example on the N-terminal end.

Any number, combination and/or sequence of H, K and/or R may be presentin the carrier peptide. In some embodiments, all of the amino acidsubunits, except the carboxy terminal glycine or proline, are positivelycharged amino acids. In other embodiments, at least one of thepositively charged amino acids is arginine. For example, in someembodiments, all of the positively charged amino acids are arginine, andin even other embodiments the carrier peptide consists of arginine andthe carboxy terminal glycine or proline. In yet other embodiments, thecarrier peptide comprises no more than seven contiguous arginines, forexample no more than six contiguous arginines.

Other types of positively charged amino acids are also envisioned. Forexample, in certain embodiments, at least one of the positively chargedamino acids is an arginine analog. For example, the arginine analog maybe a cationic α-amino acid comprising a side chain of the structureR^(a)N═C(NH₂)R^(b), where R^(a) is H or R^(c); R^(b) is R^(c), NH₂, NHR,or N(R^(c))₂, where R_(c) is lower alkyl or lower alkenyl and optionallycomprises oxygen or nitrogen or R^(a) and R^(b) may together form aring; and wherein the side chain is linked to the amino acid via R^(a)or R^(b). The carrier peptides may comprise any number of these arginineanalogues.

The positively charged amino acids may occur in any sequence within thecarrier peptide. For example, in some embodiments the positively chargedamino acids may alternate or may be sequential. For example, the carrierpeptide may comprise the sequence (R^(d))_(m), wherein R^(d) isindependently, at each occurrence, a positively charged amino acid and mis an integer ranging from 2 to 12, from 2 to 10, from 2 to 8 or from 2to 6. For example, in certain embodiments, R^(d) is arginine, and thecarrier peptide comprises a sequence selected from (R)₄, (R)₅, (R)₆,(R)₇ and (R)₈, or selected from (R)₄, (R)₅, (R)₆ and (R)₇ for example inspecific embodiments the carrier peptide comprises the sequence (R)₆,for example (R)₆G or (R)₆P.

In other embodiments, the carrier peptide consists of the sequence(R^(d))_(m) and the carboxy terminal glycine or proline, wherein R^(d)is independently, at each occurrence, a positively charged amino acidand m is an integer ranging from 2 to 12, from 2 to 10, from 2 to 8 orfrom 2 to 6. In certain embodiments Rd is independently, at eachoccurrence, arginine, histidine or lysine. For example, in certainembodiments, R^(d) is arginine, and the carrier peptide consists of asequence selected from (R)₄, (R)₅, (R)₆, (R)₇ and (R)₈ and the carboxyterminal glycine or proline. For example in specific embodiments thecarrier peptide consists of the sequence (R)₆G or (R)₆P.

In some other embodiments, the carrier peptide may comprise one or morehydrophobic amino acid subunits, the hydrophobic amino acid subunitscomprising a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylor aralkyl side chain wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl side chainincludes at most one heteroatom for every six carbon atoms acid. In someembodiments, the hydrophobic amino acid is phenylalanine (F). Forexample, the carrier peptide may comprise two or more contingoushydrophobic amino acids such as phenylalanine (F), for example twocontiguous phenylalanine moieties. The hydrophobic amino acid(s) may beat any point in the carrier peptide sequence.

In other embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises the sequence[(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)]_(z) or[(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)]_(z) wherein R^(d) isindependently, at each occurrence, a positively charged amino acid, xand y are independently, at each occurrence, 0 or 1, provided that x+yis 1 or 2, z is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and Y^(b) is—C(O)—(CHR^(e))_(n)—NH—(Y^(b))wherein n is 2 to 7 and each R^(e) is independently, at each occurrence,hydrogen or methyl. In some of these embodiments, R^(d) isindependently, at each occurrence arginine, histidine or lysine. Inother embodiments, each R^(d) is arginine. In other embodiments, n is 5and Y^(b) is an aminohexanoic acid moiety. In other embodiments, n is 2and Y^(b) is a β-alanine moiety. In yet other embodiments, R^(e) ishydrogen.

In certain embodiments of the foregoing, x is 1 and y is 0, and thecarrier peptide comprises the sequence (R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(z). In otherembodiments, n is 5 and Y^(b) is an aminohexanoic acid moiety. In otherembodiments, n is 2 and Y^(b) is a β-alanine moiety. In yet otherembodiments, R^(e) is hydrogen.

In still other embodiments of the foregoing, x is 0 and y is 1, and thecarrier peptide comprises the sequence (R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(z). In otherembodiments, n is 5 and Y^(b) is an aminohexanoic acid moiety. In otherembodiments, n is 2 and Y^(b) is a β-alanine moiety. In yet otherembodiments, R^(e) is hydrogen.

In other embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises the sequence(R^(d)Y^(b))_(p), wherein R^(d) and Y^(b) are as defined above and p isan integer ranging from 2 to 8. In other embodiments, each R^(d) isarginine. In other embodiments, n is 5 and Y^(b) is an aminohexanoicacid moiety. In other embodiments, n is 2 and Y^(b) is a β-alaninemoiety. In yet other embodiments, R^(e) is hydrogen.

In other embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises the sequence ILFQY(SEQ ID NO: 576). The peptides may comprise the ILFQY (SEQ ID NO: 576)sequence in addition to any of the other sequences disclosed herein. Forexample the carrier peptide may comprise ILFQY (SEQ ID NO: 576) and[(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)]_(z),[(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)]_(z), (R^(d)Y^(b))_(p) orcombinations thereof wherein R^(d), x, y and Y^(b) are as defined above.The [(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)]_(z),[(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)]_(z) or (R^(d)Y^(b))_(p)sequence may be on the amino terminus, carboxy terminus or both of theILFQY (SEQ ID NO: 576) sequence. In certain embodiments, x is 1 and y is0 and the carrier peptide comprises (R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(z) linked to theILFQY (SEQ ID NO: 576) sequence via an optional Z linker.

In other related embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises the sequenceILFQ (SEQ ID NO: 577), IWFQ (SEQ ID NO: 578) or ILIQ (SEQ ID NO: 579).Other embodiments include carrier peptides which comprise the sequencePPMWS (SEQ ID NO: 580), PPMWT (SEQ ID NO: 581), PPMFS (SEQ ID NO: 582)or PPMYS (SEQ ID NO: 583). The carrier peptide may comprise thesesequences in addition to any of the other sequences described herein,for example in addition to the sequences[(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)]_(z),[(R^(d)R^(d)Y^(b))_(y)(R^(d)Y^(b)R^(d))_(x)]_(z) or (R^(d)Y^(b))_(p)wherein R^(d), x, y and Y^(b) are as defined above.

Some embodiments of the carrier peptide include modifications tonaturally occurring amino acid subunits, for example the amino terminalor carboxy terminal amino acid subunit may be modified. Suchmodifications include capping the free amino or free carboxy with ahydrophobic group. For example, the amino terminus may be capped with anacetyl, benzoyl or stearoyl moiety. For example, any of the peptidesequences in Table 1 may have such modifications even if notspecifically depicted in the table. In these embodiments, the aminoterminus of the carrier peptide can be depicted as follows:

In yet other embodiments, the carrier peptide comprises at least one ofalanine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, histidine, lysine,methionine, serine or threonine.

In some of the embodiments disclosed herein, the carrier peptideconsists of the noted sequences and the carboxy terminal glycine orproline amino acid subunit.

In some embodiments the carrier peptide does not consist of thefollowing sequences (amino terminal to carboxy terminal): R₆G, R₇G, R₈G,R₅GR₄G, R₅F₂R₄G, Tat-G, rTat-G, (RXR₂G₂)₂ or (RXR₃X)₂G. In yet otherembodiments, the carrier peptide does not consist of R₈G, R₉G or R₉F₂G.In still other embodiments, the carrier peptide does not consist of thefollowing sequences: Tat-G, rTat-G, R₉F₂G, R₅F₂R₄, R₄G, R₅G, R₆G, R₇G,R₈G, R₉G, (RXR)₄G, (RXR)₅G, (RXRRBR)₂G, (RAR)₄F₂ or (RGR)₄F₂. In otherembodiments, the carrier peptide does not consist of “Penetratin” or“R₆Pen”.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a peptide-nucleicacid analog conjugate, comprising

-   -   a nucleic acid analog having a substantially uncharged backbone        and a targeting base sequence, and    -   covalently linked to the nucleic acid analog, a peptide        comprising a carboxy terminal glycine or proiline amino acid        subunit and consisting of 8 to 16 additional other subunits        selected from R^(d) subunits, Y subunits, and optional Z        subunits, including at least eight R^(d) subunits, at least two        Y subunits, and at most three Z subunits, where >50% of said        subunits are R^(d) subunits, and where    -   (a) each R^(d) subunit independently represents arginine or an        arginine analog, the arginine analog being a cationic α-amino        acid comprising a side chain of the structure        R^(a)N═C(NH₂)R^(b), where R^(a) is H or R^(c); R^(b) is R^(c),        NH₂, NHR, or N(R^(c))₂, where R^(c) is lower alkyl or lower        alkenyl and optionally comprises oxygen or nitrogen or R^(a) and        R^(b) may together form a ring; and wherein the side chain is        linked to the amino acid via R^(a) or R^(b);    -   (b) the at least two Y subunits are Y^(a) or Y^(b), wherein:    -   (i) each Y^(a) is independently a neutral α-amino acid subunits        having side chains independently selected from substituted or        unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, and aralkyl,        wherein said side chain, when selected from substituted alkyl,        alkenyl, and alkynyl, includes at most one heteroatom for every        two, preferably every four, and more preferably every six carbon        atoms, and wherein said subunits are contiguous or are flanking        a linker moiety, and    -   (ii) Y^(b) is:        —C(O)—(CHR^(e))_(n)—NH—(Y^(b))

wherein n is 2 to 7 and each R^(e) is independently, at each occurrence,hydrogen or methyl; and

-   -   (c) Z represents an amino acid subunit selected from alanine,        asparagine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, histidine, lysine,        methionine, serine, threonine and amino acids having side chains        which are one- or two-carbon homologs of naturally occurring        side chains, excluding side chains which are negatively charged        at physiological pH (e.g. carboxylate side chains). In some        embodiments, the side chains are neutral. In other embodiments,        the Z side chains are side chains of naturally occurring amino        acids. The optional Z subunits in some embodiments are selected        from alanine, glycine, methionine, serine, and threonine. The        carrier peptide may include zero, one, two, or three Z subunits,        and in some embodiments includes at most two Z subunits.

In selected embodiments, the carrier peptide has exactly two Y subunitsof type Y^(a), which are contiguous or are flanking a cysteine subunit.In some embodiments, the two Y^(a) subunits are contiguous. In otherembodiments, side chains for Y^(a) subunits include side chains ofnaturally occurring amino acids and one- or two-carbon homologs thereof,excluding side chains which are charged at physiological pH. Otherpossible side chains are side chains of naturally occurring amino acids.In further embodiments, the side chain is an aryl or aralkyl side chain;for example, each Y^(a) may be independently selected fromphenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

In selected embodiments, each Y^(a) is independently selected fromphenylalanine and tyrosine; in further embodiments, each R^(a) isphenylalanine. This includes, for example, conjugates which consist ofarginine subunits, phenylalanine subunits, the glycine or proline aminoacid subunit, an optional linker moiety, and the nucleic acid analog.One such conjugate includes a peptide having the formula Arg₉Phe₂aa,where aa is glycine or proline.

The foregoing carrier peptides may also comprise ILFQY (SEQ ID NO: 576),ILFQ (SEQ ID NO: 577), IWFQ (SEQ ID NO: 578) or ILIQ (SEQ ID NO: 579).Other embodiments include the foregoing carrier peptides which comprisethe sequence PPMWS (SEQ ID NO: 580), PPMWT (SEQ ID NO: 581), PPMFS (SEQID NO: 582) or PPMYS (SEQ ID NO: 583).

The peptide-oligomer conjugates of the invention are more effective thanthe unconjugated oligomer in various functions, including: inhibitingexpression of targeted mRNA in a protein expression system, includingcell free translation systems; inhibiting splicing of targeted pre-mRNA;and inhibiting replication of a virus, by targeting cis-acting elementswhich control nucleic acid replication or mRNA transcription of thevirus.

Also included within the scope of the present invention are conjugatesof other pharmacological agents (i.e., not a nucleic acid analog) andthe carrier peptide. Specifically, some embodiments provide a conjugatecomprising:

-   -   (a) a carrier peptide comprising amino acid subunits; and    -   (b) a pharmacological agent;        wherein:

two or more of the amino acid subunits are positively charged aminoacids, the carrier peptide comprises a glycine (G) or proline (P) aminoacid subunit at a carboxy terminus of the carrier peptide and thecarrier peptide is covalently attached to the pharmacological agent. Thecarrier peptide in these embodiments may be any of the carrier peptidesdescribed herein. Methods for delivering the pharmacological agent byconjugating it to the carrier peptide are also provided.

The pharmacological agent to be delivered is may be a biologicallyactive agent, e.g. a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, although it may bea compound employed for detection, such as a fluorescent compound.Biologically active agents include drug substances selected frombiomolecules, e.g. peptides, proteins, saccharides, or nucleic acids,particularly antisense oligonucleotides, or “small molecule” organic orinorganic compounds. A “small molecule” compound may be defined broadlyas an organic, inorganic, or organometallic compound which is not abiomolecule as described above. Typically, such compounds have molecularweights of less than 1000, or, in one embodiment, less than 500.

In one embodiment, the pharmacological agent to be delivered does notinclude single amino acids, dipeptides, or tripeptides. In anotherembodiment, it does not include short oligopeptides; that is,oligopeptides having fewer than six amino acid subunits. In a furtherembodiment, it does not include longer oligopeptides; that is,oligopeptides having between seven and 20 amino acid subunits. In astill further embodiment, it does not include polypeptides, havinggreater than 20 amino acid subunits, or proteins.

The carrier peptide is effective to enhance the transport of thepharmacological agent into a cell relative to the pharmacological agentin unconjugated form and/or with less toxicity, relative to thepharmacological agent conjugated to a corresponding peptide lacking theglycing or proline subunits. In some embodiments, transport is enhancedby a factor of at least two, at least five or at least ten. In otherembodiments, toxicity is decreased (i.e., maximum tolerated doseincreased) by a factor of at least two, at least five or at least ten.

B. Peptide Linkers

The carrier peptide can be linked to the agent to be delivered (e.g.,nucleic acid analogue, pharmacological agent, etc.) by a variety ofmethods available to one of skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the carrier peptide is linked to the nucleic acidanalogue directly without an intervening linker. In this regard,formation of an amide bond between the terminal amino acid and a freeamine of free carboxyl on the nucleic acid analogue may be useful forforming the conjugate. In certain embodiments, the carboxy terminalglycine or proline subunit is linked directly to the 3′ end of thenucleic acid analogue, for example the carrier peptide may be linked byforming an amide bond between the carboxy terminal glycine or prolinemoiety and the 3′ morpholino ring nitrogen (see e.g., FIG. 1C).

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid analog is conjugated to thecarrier peptide via a linker moiety selected from a Y^(a) or Y^(b)subunit, a cysteine subunit, and an uncharged, non-amino acid linkermoiety. In other embodiments, the nucleic acid analogue is linked to thecarrier peptide directly via the glycine or proline moiety at either the5′ or 3′ end of the nucleic acid analogue. In some embodiments, thecarrier peptide is linked directly via the glycine or proline amino acidsubunit to the 3′ of the nucleic acid analogue, for example directlylinked to the 3′ morpholino nitrogen via an amide bond.

In other embodiments, the conjugates comprise a linking moiety betweenthe terminal glycine or proline amino acid subunit. In some of theembodiments, the linker is up to 18 atoms in length comprising bondsselected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide, ester,carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate, phosphoroamidate,phosphorothioate and phosphodiester. In certain embodiments, the linkercomprises phosphorodiamidate and piperazine bonds. For example, in someembodiments the linker has the following structure (XXIX):

wherein R²⁴ is absent, H or C₁-C₆ alkyl. In certain embodiments, R²⁴ isabsent and in other embodiments structure (XXIX) links the 5′ end of anucleic acid analogue (e.g., a morpholino oligomer) to the carrierpeptide (see e.g., FIG. 1B).

In some embodiments, the side chain moieties of the R^(d) subunits areindependently selected from guanidyl (HN═C(NH₂)NH—), amidinyl(HN═C(NH₂)C<), 2-aminodihydropyrimidyl, 2-aminotetrahydropyrimidyl,2-aminopyridinyl and 2-amino pyrimidinyl.

Multiple carrier peptides can be attached to a single compound ifdesired; alternatively, multiple compounds can be conjugated to a singletransporter. The linker between the carrier peptide and the nucleic acidanalogue may also consist of natural or non-natural amino acids (e.g.,6-aminohexanoic acid or β-alanine). The linker may also comprise adirect bond between the carboxy terminus of a transporter peptide and anamine or hydroxy group of the nucleic acid analogue (e.g., at the 3′morpholino nitrogen or 5′ OH), forming by condensation promoted by e.g.carbodiimide.

In general, the linker may comprise any nonreactive moiety which doesnot interfere with transport or function of the conjugate. Linkers canbe selected from those which are non-cleavable under normal conditionsof use, e.g., containing an ether, thioether, amide, or carbamate bond.In other embodiments, it may be desirable to include a linkage betweenthe carrier peptide and compound (e.g., oligonucleotide analogue,pharmacological agent, etc.) which is cleavable in vivo. Bonds which arecleavable in vivo are known in the art and include, for example,carboxylic acid esters, which are hydrolyzed enzymatically, anddisulfides, which are cleaved in the presence of glutathione. It mayalso be feasible to cleave a photolytically cleavable linkage, such asan ortho-nitrophenyl ether, in vivo by application of radiation of theappropriate wavelength. Exemplary heterobifunctional linking agentswhich further contain a cleavable disulfide group includeN-hydroxysuccinimidyl 3[(4-azidophenyl)dithio]propionate and othersdescribed in Vanin, E. F. and Ji, T. H., Biochemistry 20:6754-6760(1981).′

C. Exemplary Carrier Peptides

A Table of sequences of exemplary carrier peptides and oligonucleotidesequences is provided below in Table 1. In some embodiments, the presentdisclosure provides a peptide oligomer conjugate, wherein the peptidecomprises or consists of any one of the peptide sequences in Table 1. Inanother embodiment, the nucleic acid analogue comprises or consists ofany of the oligonucleotide sequences in Table 1. In still otherembodiments, the present disclosure provides a peptide oligomerconjugate, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of any one of thepeptide sequences in Table 1, and the nucleic acid analogue comprises orconsists of any of the oligonucleotide sequences in Table 1. In otherembodiments, the disclosure provides a peptide comprising or consistingof any one of the sequences in Table 1.

TABLE 1  Exemplary Carrier Peptides and Oligonucleotide Sequences SEQSequence  ID Name (Amino to Carboxy Terminus or 5′ to 3′) NO.(RFF)₃; CP0407 RFFRFFRFF-aa 89 RTR RTRTRFLRRT-aa 90 RFFR RFFRFFRFFR-aa91 KTR KTRTKFLKKT-aa 92 KFF KFFKFFKFF-aa 93 KFFK KFFKFFKFFK-aa 94 (RFF)₂RFFRFF-aa 95 (RFF)₂R RFFRFFR-aa 96 RX RXXRXXR-aa 97 (RXR)₄; P007RXRRXRRXRRXR-aa 98 Tat₄₇₋₅₈ YGRKKRRQRRR-aa 99 Tat₄₈₋₅₈ GRKKRRQRRR-aa 100Tat₄₉₋₅₈ RKKRRQRRR-aa 101 Penetratin RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKGG-aa 102Transportan GWTLNSAGYLLGKINLKALAALAKKIL-aa 103 2XHph-1YARVRRRGPRGYARVRRRGPRR-aa 104 Hph-1 YARVRRRGPRR-aa 105 Sim-2AKAARQAAR-aa 106 HSV1 VP22 DAATATRGRSAASRPTERPRAPARSASRPRRPVE-aa 107Pep-1 KETWWETWWTEWSQPKKKRKV-aa 108 Pep-2 KETWFETWFTEWSQPKKKRKV-aa 109ANTP RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKK-aa 110 R₆Pen RRRRRR-RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKGG-aa 111 rTatRRRQRRKKRC-aa 112 pTat CYGRKKRRQRRR-aa 113 R₉F₂ RRRRRRRRRFFC-aa 114R₉CF₂ RRRRRRRRRCFF-aa 115 RRRRRRRRRCFF R₈CF₂R RRRRRRRRCFFR-aa 116R₆CF₂R₃ RRRRRRCFFRRR-aa 117 R₅FCFR₄ RRRRRFCFRRRR-aa 118 R₅F₂R₄RRRRRFFRRRR-aa 119 R₄CF₂R₅ RRRRCFFRRRRR-aa 120 R₂CF₂R₇ RRCFFRRRRRRR-aa121 CF₂R₉ CFFRRRRRRRRR-aa 122 CR₉F₂ CRRRRRRRRRFF-aa 123 F₂R₉FFRRRRRRRRR-aa 124 R₅F₂C F₂R₄ RRRRRFFCFFRRRR-aa 125 R₉I₂ RRRRRRRRRII-aa126 R₈F₃ RRRRRRRRFFF-aa 127 R₉F₄ RRRRRRRRRFFFF-aa 128 R₈F₂ RRRRRRRRFF-aa129 R₆F₂ RRRRRRFF-aa 130 R₅F₂ RRRRRFF-aa 131 (RRX)₃RR RRXRRXRRXRR-aa 132(RXR)₄ RXRRXRRXRRXR-aa 133 (XRR)₄ XRRXRRXRRXRR-aa 134 (RX)₅RRRXRXRXRXRXR-aa 135 (RXR)₃ RXRRXRRXR-aa 136 (RXR)₂R RXRRXRR-aa 137 (RXR)₂RXRRXR-aa 138 (RKX)₃RK RKXRKXRKXRK-aa 139 (RHX)₃RH RHXRHXRHXRH-aa 140R₈CF₂R RRRRRRRRCFFR-aa 141 (RRX)₃RR RRXRRXRRXRR-aa 142 (RXR)₄; P007RXRRXRRXRRXR-aa 143 (XRR)₄ XRRXRRXRRXRR-aa 144 (RX)₅R RXRXRXRXRXR-aa 145(RX)₇R RXRXRXRXRXRXR-aa 146 (RXR)₅ RXRRXRRXRRXRRXR-aa 147 (RXRRBR)₂; BRXRRBRRXRRBR-aa 148 (RXR)₃RBR RXRRXRRXRRBR-aa 149 (RB)₅RXRBRRBRBRBRBRBRXRBR-aa 150 RBRBRBRXRBRBRBR RBRBRBRXRBRBRBR-aa 151X(RB)₃RX(RB)₃R-X XRBRBRBRXRBRBRBR-aa 152 (RBRX)₄ RBRXRBRXRBRXRBR-aa 153(RB)₄(RX)₃R RBRBRBRBRXRXRXR-aa 154 RX(RB)₂RX(RB)₃R RXRBRBRXRBRBRBR-aa155 (RB)₇R RBRBRBRBRBRBRBR-aa 156 R₄ tg-RRRR-aa 157 R₅ tg-RRRRR-aa 158R₆ tg-RRRRRR-aa 159 R₇ tg-RRRRRRR-aa 160 R₈ tg-RRRRRRRR-aa 161 R₅GR₄tg-RRRRRGRRRR-aa 162 R₅F₂R₄ tg-RRRRRFFRRRR-aa 163 Tat tg-RKKRRQRRR-aa164 rTat tg-RRRQRRKKR-aa 165 RXRRXR-aa 166 RBRRBR-aa 167 RXRRBR-aa 168RBRRXR-aa 169 RXRY^(b)RXR-aa 170 RBRY^(b)RBR-aa 171 RXRY^(b)RBR-aa 172RBRY^(b)RXR-aa 173 RXRILFQYRXR-aa 174 RBRILFQYRBR-aa 175 RXRILFQYRBR-aa176 RBRILFQYRXR-aa 177 RXRRXRRXR-aa 178 RBRRBRRBR-aa 179 RXRRBRRXR-aa180 RXRRBRRBR-aa 181 RXRRXRRBR-aa 182 RBRRXRRBR-aa 183 RBRRXRRXR-aa 184RBRRBRRXR-aa 185 RXRY^(b)RXRRXR-aa 186 RXRRXRY^(b)RXR-aa 187RXRILFQYRXRRXR-aa 188 RXRRXRILFQYRXR-aa 189 RXRY^(b)RXRY^(b)RXR-aa 190RXRILFQYRXRILFQYRXR-aa 191 RXRILFQYRXRY^(b)RXR-aa 192RXRY^(b)RXRILFQYRXR-aa 193 RBRY^(b)RBRRBR-aa 194 RBRRBRY^(b)RBR-aa 195RBRILFQYRBRRBR-aa 196 RBRRBRILFQYRBR-aa 197 RBRYRBRY^(b)RBR-aa 198RBRILFQYRBRILFQYRBR-aa 199 RBRY^(b)RBRILFQYRBR-aa 200RBRILFQYRBRY^(b)RBR-aa 201 RXRY^(b)RBRRXR-aa 202 RXRRBRY^(b)RXR-aa 203RXRILFQYRBRRXR-aa 204 RXRRBRILFQYRXR-aa 205 RXRY^(b)RBRY^(b)RXR-aa 206RXRILFQYRBRILFQYRXR-aa 207 RXRY^(b)RBRILFQYRXR-aa 208RXRILFQYRBRY^(b)RXR-aa 209 RXRY^(b)RBRRBR-aa 210 RXRRBRY^(b)RBR-aa 211RXRILFQYRBRRBR-aa 212 RXRRBRILFQYRBR-aa 213 RXRY^(b)RBRY^(b)RBR-aa 214RXRILFQYRBRILFQYRBR-aa 215 RXRY^(b)RBRILFQYRBR-aa 216RXRILFQYRBRY^(b)RBR-aa 217 RXRY^(b)RXRRBR-aa 218 RXRRXRY^(b)RBR-aa 219RXRILFQYRXRRBR-aa 220 RXRRXRILFQYRBR-aa 221 RXRY^(b)RXRY^(b)RBR-aa 222RXRILFQYRXRILFQYRBR-aa 223 RXRY^(b)RXRILFQYRBR- aa 224RXRILFQYRXRY^(b)RBR-aa 225 RBRY^(b)RXRRBR-aa 226 RBRRXRY^(b)RBR-aa 227RBRILFQYRXRRBR-aa 228 RBRRXRILFQYRBR-aa 229 RBRY^(b)RXRY^(b)RBR-aa 230RBRILFQYRXRILFQYRBR-aa 231 RBRY^(b)RXRILFQYRBR-aa 232RBRILFQYRXRYbRBR-aa 233 RBRY^(b)RXRRXR-aa 234 RBRRXRY^(b)RXR-aa 235RBRILFQYRXRRXR-aa 236 RBRRXRILFQYRXR-aa 237 RBRY^(b)RXRY^(b)RXR-aa 238RBRILFQYRXRILFQYRXR-aa 239 RBRY^(b)RXRILFQYRXR-aa 240RBRILFQYRXRY^(b)RXR-aa 241 RBRY^(b)RBRRXR-aa 242 RBRRBRY^(b)RXR-aa 243RBRILFQYRBRRXR-aa 244 RBRRBRILFQYRXR-aa 245 RBRY^(b)RBRY^(b)RXR-aa 246RBRILFQYRBRILFQYRXR-aa 247 RBRY^(b)RBRILFQYRXR-aa 248RBRILFQYRBRY^(b)RXR-aa 249 RXRRXRRXRRXR-aa 250 RXRRBRRXRILFQYRXRBRXR-aa251 RXRRXRRBR-aa 252 YGRKKRRQRRRP-aa 253 RXRRXRRXRRXRXBASSLNIAXC-aa 254RXRRBRRXRILFQYRXRBRXRBASSLNIAXC-aa 255 RXRRBRRXRASSLNIARXRBRXRBC-aa 256RXRRBRRXRRBRXBASSLNIA-aa 257 THRPPMWSPVWP-aa 258 HRPPMWSPVWP-aa 259THRPPMWSPV-aa 260 THRPPMWSP-aa 261 THRPPMWSPVFP-aa 262 THRPPMWSPVYP-aa263 THRPPMWSPAWP-aa 264 THRPPMWSPLWP-aa 265 THRPPMWSPIWP-aa 266THRPPMWTPVVWP-aa 267 THRPPMFSPVWP-aa 268 THRPPMWS-aa 269 HRPPMWSPVW-aa270 THPMYSPVWP-aa 271 THRPPnleWSPVWP-aa (nle = norleucine) 272THKPPMWSPVWP-aa 273 SHRPPMWSPVWP-aa 274 STFTHPR-aa 275 YDIDNRR-aa 276AYKPVGR-aa 277 HAIYPRH-aa 278 HTPNSTH-aa 279 ASSPVHR-aa 280 SSLPLRK-aa281 KKRS-aa 282 KRSK-aa 283 KKRSK-aa 284 KSRK-aa 285 SRKR-aa 286 RKRK-aa287 KSRKR-aa 288 QHPPWRV-aa 289 THPPTTH-aa 290 YKHTPTT-aa 291 QGMHRGT-aa292 SRKRK-aa 293 KSRKRK-aa 294 PKKKRKV-aa 295 GKKRSKV-aa 296 KSRKRKL-aa297 HSPSKIP-aa 298 HMATFHY-aa 299 AQPNKFK-aa 300 NLTRLHT-aa 301 KKKR-aa302 KKRK-aa 303 KKKRK-aa 304 RRRRRRQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKGGC-aa 305RRRRRRRQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKGGC-aa 306 RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKGGC-aa 307RRRRRRRQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 308 RXRRXRRXRRQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKGGC-aa 309RRRRRRRQIKILFQNRXRXRXRXC-aa 310 RXRRXRRXRRXRC-aa 311 RXRRXRRXRRXRXC-aa312 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRRMKWKKGGC-aa 313 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 314RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRMKWKKC-aa 315 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKKC-aa 316RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNHRMKWKKC-aa 317 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKKC-aa 318RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKKC-aa 319 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKAC-aa 320RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 321 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWHRC-aa 322RXRXRXRXRIKILFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 323 RARARARARIKILFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 324RXRRXRRXRIXILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 325 RXRRXRRXRIHILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 326RXRRXRRXRIRILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 327 RXRRXRRXRIXILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 328RXRRXRRXRLYSPLSFQXRMKWHKAC-aa 329 RXRRXRRXRISILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 330RXRRXRRXRILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 331 RXRRXRIXILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 332RXRRARRXRIHILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 333 RARRXRRARIHILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 334RXRRXRRXRIHILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 335 RXRRXRRXRIXILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 336RXRRXRRXRIHILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 337 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 338RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 339 RXRRXRRXRIXILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 340RXRRXRRXRIXILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 341 RXRRXRRXRIHILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 342RXRRXRRXRIHILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 343 RXRRXRRXRIRILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 344RXRRXRRXRIRILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 345 RXRRXRRXRIILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 346RXRRXRRXRIILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 347 RXRRXRRXRKILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 348RXRRXRRXRKILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 349 RXRRXRRXRXILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 350RXRRXRRXRXILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 351 RXRRXRRXRHILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 352RXRRXRRXRHILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 353 RXRRXRRXRRILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 354RXRRXRRXRRILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 355 RXRRXRRXRILFQNRRMKWHK-aa 356RXRRXRRXRILFQNXRMKWHK-aa 357 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 358RXRRXRRXRIKILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 359 RXRRRXRIXILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 360RXRRXRRXRIXILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 361 RXRRXRRXRIHILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 362RXRRXRRXRIHILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 363 RXRRXRRXRIRILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 364RXRRXRRXRIRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 365 RXRRXRRXRIILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 366RXRRXRRXRIILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 367 RXRRXRRXRKILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 368RXRRXRRXRKILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 369 RXRRXRRXRXILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 370RXRRXRRXRXILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 371 RXRRXRRXRHILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 372RXRRXRRXRHILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 373 RXRRXRRXRRILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 374RXRRXRRXRRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 375 RXRRXRRXRILFQYRRMKWHK-aa 376RXRRXRRXRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 377 RXRRXRRXR-aa 378 RXRRXRRXRRXR-aa 379RARRAR-aa 380 RARRARRAR-aa 381 RARRARRARRAR-aa 382 RXRRXRI-aa 383RXRRARRXR-aa 384 RARRXRRAR-aa 385 RRRRR-aa 386 RRRRRR-aa 387 RRRRRRR-aa388 RXRRXRRXRRXRC-aa 389 RXRRXRRXRRXRXC-aa 390RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRRMKWKKGGC-aa 391 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 392RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNRMKWKKC-aa 393 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKKC-aa 394RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNHRMKWKKC-aa 395 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKKC-aa 396RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKKC-aa 397 RXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWKAC-aa 398RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 399 RXRRXRRXRIKILFQNXRMKWHRC-aa 400RXRXRXRXRIKILFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 401 RARARARARIKILFQNRRMKWKKC-aa 402RXRRXRRXRIXILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 403 RXRRXRRXRIHILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 404RXRRXRRXRIRILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 405 RXRRXRRXRIXILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 406RXRRXRRXRLYSPLSFQXRMKWHKAC-aa 407 RRMKWHK-aa 408 XRMKWHK-aa 409XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXRMKWHK-aa 410 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXRMKWHK-aa 411RRRRRRRQIKILFQNPKKKRKVGGC-aa 412 HHFFRRRRRRRRRFFC-aa 413HHHHHHRRRRRRRRRFFC-aa 414 HHHHHHFFRRRRRRRRRFFC-aa 415HHHHHXXRRRRRRRRRFFC-aa 416 HHHHHHXXFFRRRRRRRRRFFC-aa 417HHHXRRRRRRRRRFFXHHHC-aa 418 XRMKWHK-aa 419 XRWKWHK-aa 420 RXRARXR-aa 421RXRXRXR-aa 422 RARXRAR-aa 423 RXRAR-aa 424 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXHMKWHK-aa425 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXRWKWHK-aa 426 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXHWKWHK-aa 427XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRARXR-aa 428 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRXRXR-aa 429XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRRXR-aa 430 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRARXRAR-aa 431XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRARXR-aa 432 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRAR-aa 433XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXRMKWHK-aa 434 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXHMKWHK-aa 435XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXRWKWHK-aa 436 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXHWKWHK-aa 437XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRARXR-aa 438 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRXRXR-aa 439XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRRXR-aa 440 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRARXRAR-aa 441XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRARXR-aa 442 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRAR-aa 443XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXHMKWHK-aa 444 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXRWKWHK-aa 445XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXXHWKWHK-aa 446 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRARXR-aa 447XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRXRXR-aa 448 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRRXR-aa 449XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRARXRAR-aa 450 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRARXR-aa 451XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILFQXRXRAR-aa 452 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXRMKWHK-aa 453XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXHMKWHK-aa 454 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXRWKWHK-aa 455XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXXHWKWHK-aa 456 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRARXR-aa 457XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRXRXR-aa 458 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRRXR-aa 459XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRARXRAR-aa 460 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRARXR-aa 461XXXXXXXXXXXXXXILIQXRXRAR-aa 462 RXRRARRXRRARXA-aa 463RXRRARRXRILFQYXHMKWHKAC-aa 464 RXRRARRXRILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 465RXRRARRXRILFQYXRWKWHKAC-aa 466 RXRRXRRXRRXRC-aa 467RXRRXRRXRIXILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 468 RXRRXRRXRIHILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 469RXRRXRRXRIXILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 470 RXRRXRRXRLYSPLSFQXRMKWHKAC-aa 471RXRRXRRXRILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 472 RXRRXRIXILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 473RARRXRRARILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 474 RXRRARRXRILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 475RARRXRRARILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 476 RXRRARRXRILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 477RXRRARRXRILFQYXHMKWHKAC-aa 478 RXRRARRXRILFQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 479RXRRARRXRLFQYXRWKWHKAC-aa 480 RXRRARRXRILFQYXHWKWHKAC-aa 481RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRARXRAC-aa 482 RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRXRXRAC-aa 483RXRRARRXRILIQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 484 RXRRXRILFQYRXRRXRC-aa 485RXRRARILFQYRXRARXRAC-aa 486 RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRXRXRAC-aa 487RXRRARRXRILIQYXRMKWHKAC-aa 488 RXRRXRILFQYRXRRXRCYS-aa 489RARRXRRARILFQYRARXRARAC-aa 490 RARRXRRARILFQYRXRARXRAC-aa 491RARRXRRARILFQYRXRRXRAC-aa 492 RARRXRRARILFQYRXRARXAC-aa 493RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRRXRAC-aa 494 RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRARXAC-aa 495RXRRARRXRIHILFQNXRMKWHKAC-aa 496 RXRRARRXRRARXAC-aa 497RXRRARRXRILFQYXHMKWHK-aa 498 RXRRARRXRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 499RXRRARRXRILFQYXRWKWHK-aa 500 RXRRARRXRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 501RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRARXR-aa 502 RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRXRXR-aa 503RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRRXR-aa 504 RXRRARRXRILFQYRARXRAR-aa 505RXRRARRXRILFQYRXRAR-aa 506 RXRRARRXRILIQYXHMKWHK-aa 507RXRRARRXRILIQYXRMKWHK-aa 508 RXRRARRXRILIQYXRWKWHK-aa 509RXRRARRXRILIQYXRMKWHK-aa 510 RXRRARRXRILIQYRXRARXR-aa 511RXRRARRXRILIQYRXRXRXR-aa 512 RXRRARRXRILIQYRXRRXR-aa 513RXRRARRXRILIQYRARXRAR-aa 514 RXRRARRXRILIQYRXRAR-aa 515RARRXRRARILFQYXHMKWHK-aa 516 RARRXRRARILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 517RARRXRRARILFQYXRWKWHK-aa 518 RARRXRRARILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 519RARRXRRARILFQYRXRARXR-aa 520 RARRXRRARILFQYRXRXRXR-aa 521RARRXRRARILFQYRXRRXR-aa 522 RARRXRRARILFQYRARXRAR-aa 523RARRXRRARILFQYRXRAR-aa 524 RARRXRRARILIQYXHMKWHK-aa 525RARRXRRARILIQYXRMKWHK-aa 526 RARRXRRARILIQYXRWKWHK-aa 527RARRXRRARILIQYXRMKWHK-aa 528 RARRXRRARILIQYRXRARXR-aa 529RARRXRRARILIQYRXRXRXR-aa 530 RARRRARILIQYRXRRXR-aa 531RARRXRRARILIQYRARXRAR-aa 532 RARRXRRARILIQYRXRAR-aa 533RXRRXRILFQYXHMKWHK-aa 534 RXRRXRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 535RXRRXRILFQYXRWKWHK-aa 536 RXRRXRILFQYXRMKWHK-aa 537 RXRRXRILFQYRXRAR-aa538 RXRRXRILFQYRXRXRXR-aa 539 RXRRXRILFQYRXRRXR-aa 540RXRRXRILFQYRARXRAR-aa 541 RXRRXRILFQYRXRAR-aa 542 RXRRXRILIQYXHMKWHK-aa543 RXRRXRILIQYXRMKWHK-aa 544 RXRRXRILIQYXRWKWHK-aa 545RXRRXRILIQYXRMKWHK-aa 546 RXRRXRILIQYRXRARXR-aa 547RXRRXRILIQYRXRXRXR-aa 548 RXRRXRILIQYRXRRXR-aa 549 RXRRXRILIQYRARXRAR-aa550 RXRRXRILIQYRXRAR-aa 551 PRPXXXXXXXXXXXPRG-aa 552 RRRRRRRR-aa 553RRMKWKK-aa 554 PKKKRKV-aa 555 CKDEPQRRSARLSAKPAPPKPEPKPKKAPAKK-aa 556RKKRRQRRR-aa 557 RKKRRQRR-aa 558 RKKRRQR-aa 559 KKRRQRRR-aa 560KKRRQRRR-aa 561 AKKRRQRRR-aa 562 RAKRRQRRR-aa 563 RKARRQRRR-aa 564RKKARQRRR-aa 565 CRWRWKCCKK-aa 566 Dengue CGGTCCACGTAGACTAACAACT 1 JEVGAAGTTCACACAGATAAACTTCT 2 M1/M2AUG.20.22 CGGTTAGAAGACTCATCTTT 3M1/M2AUG.25.26 TTTCGACATCGGTTAGAAGACTCAT 4 NP-AUG GAGACGCCATGATGTGGATGTC5 Picornavirus GAAACACGGACACCCAAAGTAGT 6 Dengue 3′-CSTCCCAGCGTCAATATGCTGTTT 7 Arenaviruses GCCTAGGATCCACGGTGCGC 8RSV-L target GGGACAAAATGGATCCCATTATTAATGGAAATTCTG 9 CTAA RSV-AUG-2TAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 10 RSV-AUG3 AATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 11 RSV-AUG4CATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 12 RSV-AUG5 GAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTG13 RSV-AUG6 CAGAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATT 14 M23DGGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 15 AVI-5225 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT- 16RXRRBRRXRRBRXB eGFP654 GCTATTACCTTAACCCAG 17 huMSTN targetGAAAAAAGATTATATTGATTTTAAAATCATGCAAAA 18 ACTGCAACTCTGTGTT muMSTN25-104CATACATTTGCAGTTTTTGCATCAT 19 muMSTN25-183 TCATTTTTAAAAATCAGCACAATCTT 20muMSTN25-194 CAGTTTTTGCATCATTTTTAAAAATC 21 Exon44-AGATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGGTAA 22 Exon44-B AAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCAC 23Exon44-C TTGTGTCTTTCTGAGAAACTGTTCA 24 Exon45-A CTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAA25 Exon45-B CCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAA 26 Exon45-CCATTCAATGTTCTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCT 27 Exon50-A CTTACAGGCTCCAATAGTGGTCAGT 28Exon50-B CCACTCAGAGCTCAGATCTTCTAACTTCC 29 Exon50-CGGGATCCAGTATACTTACAGGCTCC 30 Exon51-A ACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAGTTTGG 31Exon51-B CTCCAACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAG 32 Exon51-CGAGCAGGTACCTCCAACATCAAGGAA 33 Exon53-A CTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACTTCATCC 34Exon53-B TGTTCTTGTACTTCATCCCACTGATTCTGA 35 SMN2-A CTTTCATAATGCTGGCAG 36SMN2-B CATAATGCTGGCAG 37 SMN2-C GCTGGCAG 38 CAG 9 mer CAG CAG CAG 39CAG 12 mer CAG CAG CAG CAG 40 CAG 15 mer CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG 41CAG 18 mer CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG 42 AGC 9 mer AGC AGC AGC 43AGC 12 mer AGC AGC AGC AGC 44 AGC 15 mer AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC 45AGC 18 mer AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC 46 GCA 9 mer GCA GCA GCA 47GCA 12 mer GCA GCA GCA GCA 48 GCA 15 mer GCA GCA GCA GCA GCA 49GCA 18 mer GCA GCA GCA GCA GCA GCA 50 AGC 25 merAGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC A 51 CAG 25 merCAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG C 52 CAGG 9 mer CAG GCA GGC 53CAGG 12 mer CAG GCA GGC AGG 54 CAGG 24 merCAG GCA GGC AGG CAG GCA GGC AGG 55 aa = glycine or proline; B =β-alanine; X = 6-aminohexanoic acid; tg = unmodifed amino terminus, orthe amino terminal capped with an acetyl, benzoyl or stearoyl group(i.e, an acetyl amide, benzoyl amide or stearoyl amide) and Y^(b) is:—C(O)—(CHR^(e))_(n)—NH— wherein n is 2 to 7 and each R^(e) isindependently, at each occurrence, hydrogen or methyl. For simplicity,not all sequences are noted with a terminal tg group; however, each ofthe above sequences may comprise an unmodifed amino terminus or an aminoterminus capped with an acetyl, benzoyl or stearoyl group

III. Antisense Oligomers

Nucleic acid analogs included in the conjugates of the invention aresubstantially uncharged synthetic oligomers capable of base-specificbinding to a target sequence of a polynucleotide, e.g. antisenseoligonucleotide analogs. Such analogs include, for example,methylphosphonates, peptide nucleic acids, substantially unchargedN3′→P5′ phosphoramidates, and morpholino oligomers.

The base sequence of the nucleic acid analog, provided by base pairinggroups supported by the analog backbone, can be any sequence, where thesupported base pairing groups include standard or modified A, T, C, Gand U bases or the non-standard inosine (I) and 7-deaza-G bases.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid analog is a morpholino oligomer,i.e. an oligonucleotide analog composed of morpholino subunit structuresof the form shown in FIG. 1, where (i) the structures are linkedtogether by phosphorus-containing linkages, one to three atoms long,preferably two atoms long, joining the morpholino nitrogen of onesubunit to the 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, and (ii) Piand Pj are purine or pyrimidine base-pairing moieties effective to bind,by base-specific hydrogen bonding, to a base in a polynucleotide. Thepurine or pyrimidine base-pairing moiety is typically adenine, cytosine,guanine, uracil or thymine. The synthesis, structures, and bindingcharacteristics of morpholino oligomers are described further below anddetailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,685, 5,217,866, 5,142,047, 5,034,506,5,166,315, 5,521,063, and 5,506,337, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

Desirable chemical properties of the morpholino-based oligomers includethe ability to selectively hybridize with a complementary-base targetnucleic acid, including target RNA, with high Tm, even with oligomers asshort as 8-14 bases, the ability to be actively transported intomammalian cells, and the ability of an oligomer:RNA heteroduplex toresist RNAse degradation.

In a preferred embodiment, the morpholino oligomer is about 8-40subunits in length. More typically, the oligomer is about 8-20, about8-16, about 10-30, or about 12-25 subunits in length. For someapplications, such as antibacterial, short oligomers, e.g. from about8-12 subunits in length, can be especially advantageous, particularlywhen attached to a peptide transporter as disclosed herein.

A. Oligomers with Modified Intersubunit Linkages

One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to peptide-oligomerconjugates comprising nucleic acid analogues (e.g., morpholinooligomers) comprising modified intersubunit linkages. In someembodiments, the conjugates have higher affinity for DNA and RNA than dothe corresponding unmodified oligomers and demonstrate improved celldelivery, potency, and/or tissue distribution properties compared tooligomers having other intersubunit linkages. In one embodiment, theconjugates comprise one or more intersubunit linkages of type (A) asdefined below. In other embodiments, the conjugates comprise at leastone intersubunit linkage of type (B) as defined below. In still otherembodiments, the conjugates comprise intersubunit linkages of type (A)and type (B). In yet other embodiments, the conjugates comprise amorpholino oligomer as described in more detail below. The structuralfeatures and properties of the various linkage types and oligomers aredescribed in more detail in the following discussion.

1. Linkage (A)

Applicants have found that enhancement of antisense activity,biodistribution and/or other desirable properties can be optimized bypreparing oligomers having various intersubunit linkages. For example,the oligomers may optionally comprise one or more intersubunit linkagesof type (A), and in certain embodiments the oligomers comprise at leastone linkage of type (A), for example each linkage may be of type (A). Insome other embodiments each linkage of type (A) has the same structure.Linkages of type (A) may include linkages disclosed in co-owned U.S.Pat. No. 7,943,762 which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety. Linkage (A) has the following structure (I), wherein 3′ and 5′indicate the point of attachment to the 3′ and 5′ ends, respectively, ofthe morpholino ring (i.e., structure (i) discussed below):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein:

W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;

X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R², —OR³ or;

Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR²,

R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;

R² is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;

R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl, —C(═NH)NH₂,—Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or —[C(═O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z is or a direct bond, R′is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a one- ortwo-carbon homolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6;

R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or an electronpair;

R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;

R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or C₁-C₆alkoxyalkyl; and

L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising alkyl,alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof.

In some examples, the oligomer comprises at least one linkage of type(A). In some other embodiments, the oligomer includes at least twoconsecutive linkages of type (A). In further embodiments, at least 5% ofthe linkages in the oligomer are type (A); for example in someembodiments, 5%-95%, 10% to 90%, 10% to 50%, or 10% to 35% of thelinkages may be linkage type (A). In some specific embodiments, at leastone type (A) linkage is —N(CH₃)₂. In other embodiments, each linkage oftype (A) is —N(CH₃)₂, and in even other embodiments each linkage in theoligomer is —N(CH₃)₂. In other embodiments, at least one type (A)linkage is piperizin-1-yl, for example unsubstituted piperazin-1-yl(e.g., A2 or A3). In other embodiments, each linkage of type (A) ispiperizin-1-yl, for example unsubstituted piperazin-1-yl.

In some embodiments, W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O, andin certain embodiments W is O.

In some embodiments, X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂,—NR¹R², —OR³. In some embodiments X is —N(CH₃)₂. In other aspects X is—NR¹R², and in other examples X is —OR³.

In some embodiments, R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogenor methyl. In some embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen. In other embodiments Xis methyl.

In some embodiments, R² is, at each occurrence, hydrogen. In otherembodiments R² is, at each occurrence, -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷. In some embodiments,R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl. Inother embodiments, R³ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R³ is ethyl.In some other embodiments, R³ is n-propyl or isopropyl. In some otherembodiments, R³ is C₄ alkyl. In other embodiments, R³ is C₅ alkyl. Insome embodiments, R³ is C₆ alkyl.

In certain embodiments, R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independentlyhydrogen. In other embodiments, R⁴ is methyl. In yet other embodiments,R⁴ is —C(═NH)NH₂, and in other embodiments, R⁴ is —Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂. Instill other embodiments, R⁴ is —[C(═O)CHR′NH]_(m)H. Z is —C(═O)— in oneembodiment and Z is a direct bond in another embodiment. R′ is a sidechain of a naturally occurring amino acid. In some embodiments R′ is aone- or two-carbon homolog of a side chain of a naturally occurringamino acid.

m is an integer from 1 to 6. m may be 1. m may be 2 m may be 3 m may be4 m may be 5 m may be 6

In some embodiments, R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen,methyl or an electron pair. In some embodiments, R⁵ is hydrogen. Inother embodiments, R⁵ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁵ is anelectron pair.

In some embodiments, R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogenor methyl. In some embodiments, R⁶ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, R⁶is methyl.

In other embodiments, R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogenC₁-C₆ alkyl or C₂-C₆ alkoxyalkyl. In some embodiments R7 is hydrogen. Inother embodiments, R⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ isC₂-C₆ alkoxyalkyl. In some embodiments, R⁷ is methyl. In otherembodiments, R⁷ is ethyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ is n-propyl orisopropyl. In some other embodiments, R⁷ is C₄ alkyl. In someembodiments, R⁷ is C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁷ is C₆ alkyl. In yetother embodiments, R⁷ is C₂ alkoxyalkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁷is C₃ alkoxyalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ is C₄ alkoxyalkyl. Insome embodiments, R⁷ is C₅ alkoxyalkyl. In other embodiments, R⁷ is C₆alkoxyalkyl.

The linker group L, as noted above, contains bonds in its backboneselected from alkyl (e.g. —CH₂—CH₂—), alkoxy (e.g., —C—O—C—), andalkylamino (e.g. —CH₂—NH—), with the proviso that the terminal atoms inL (e.g., those adjacent to carbonyl or nitrogen) are carbon atoms.Although branched linkages (e.g. —CH₂—CHCH₃—) are possible, the linkeris generally unbranched. In one embodiment, the linker is a hydrocarbonlinker. Such a linker may have the structure (CH₂)_(n)—, where n is1-12, preferably 2-8, and more preferably 2-6.

Oligomers having any number of linkage type (A) are provided. In someembodiments, the oligomer contains no linkages of type (A). In certainembodiments, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 percent of thelinkages are linkage (A). In selected embodiments, 10 to 80, 20 to 80,20 to 60, 20 to 50, 20 to 40, or 20 to 35 percent of the linkages arelinkage (A). In still other embodiments, each linkage is type (A).

2. Linkage (B)

In some embodiments, the oligomers comprise at least one linkage of type(B). For example the oligomers may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or morelinkages of type (B). The type (B) linkages may be adjacent or may beinterspersed throughout the oligomer. Linkage type (B) has the followingstructure (I):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein:

W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;

X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; and

Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR¹⁰,

R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂ alkyl;

R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂aralkyl or aryl;

R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or-LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;

wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclicheterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 memberedheterocycle, and wherein when X is 4-piperazino, X has the followingstructure (III):

wherein:

R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl;

R is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair, hydrogen orC₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and

R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl,C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, C₁-C₁₂alkylcarbonyl, oxo, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl,amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl,guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl,heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, ateach occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl.

In some examples, the oligomer comprises one linkage of type (B). Insome other embodiments, the oligomer comprises two inkages of type (B).In some other embodiments, the oligomer comprises three linkages of type(B). In some other embodiments, the oligomer comprises four linkages oftype (B). In still other embodiments, the linkages of type (B) areconsecutive (i.e., the type (B) linkages are adjacent to each other). Infurther embodiments, at least 5% of the linkages in the oligomer aretype (B); for example in some embodiments, 5%-95%, 10% to 90%, 10% to50%, or 10% to 35% of the linkages may be linkage type (B).

In other embodiments, R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogenor C₁-C₆ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R³ may be methyl. In someembodiments, R³ may be ethyl. In some other embodiments, R³ may ben-propyl or isopropyl. In yet other embodiments, R³ may be C₄ alkyl. Insome embodiments, R³ may be C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R³ may be C₆alkyl.

In some embodiments, R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogenor C₂-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁸ is hydrogen. In yet otherembodiments, R⁸ is ethyl. In some other embodiments, R⁸ is n-propyl orisopropyl. In some embodiments, R⁸ is C₄ alkyl. In yet otherembodiments, R⁸ is C₅ alkyl. In other embodiments, R⁸ is C₆ alkyl. Insome embodiments, R⁸ is C₇ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁸ is C₈alkyl. In other embodiments, R⁸ is C₉ alkyl. In yet other embodiments,R⁸ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁸ is C₁₁ alkyl. In yetother embodiments, R⁸ is C₁₂ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁸ isC₂-C₁₂ alkyl and the C₂-C₁₂ alkyl includes one or more double bonds(e.g., alkene), triple bonds (e.g., alkyne) or both. In someembodiments, R⁸ is unsubstituted C₂-C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen,C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl. In some embodiments, R⁹ ishydrogen. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In otherembodiments, R⁹ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is ethyl. Insome other embodiments, R⁹ is n-propyl or isopropyl. In someembodiments, R⁹ is C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is C₅ alkyl. In yetother embodiments, R⁹ is C₆ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₇alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is C₈ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ isC₉ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some otherembodiments, R⁹ is C₁₁ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl. For example, n someembodiments R⁹ is benzyl and the benzyl may be optionally substituted oneither the phenyl ring or the benzylic carbon. Substituents in thisregards include alkyl and alkoxy groups, for example methyl or methoxy.In some embodiments, the benzyl group is substituted with methyl at thebenzylic carbon. For example, in some embodiments, R⁹ has the followingstructure (XIV):

In other embodiments, R⁹ is aryl. For example, in some embodiments R⁹ isphenyl, and the phenyl may be optionally substituted. Substituents inthis regard substitutents include alkyl and alkoxy groups, for examplemethyl or methoxy. In other embodiments, R⁹ is phenyl and the phenylcomprises a crown ether moiety, for example a 12-18 membered crownether. In one embodiment the crown ether is 18 membered and may furthercomprise and additional phenyl moiety. For example, in one embodiment R⁹has one of the following structures (XV) or XVI):

In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen,C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷, wherein R⁴, R⁵ and R⁷ are as defined abovewith respect to linkage (A). In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is hydrogen. Inother embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, and in other embodiments R¹⁰ is-LNR⁴R⁵R⁷. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is methyl. In yet other embodiments,R¹⁰ is ethyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₃ alkyl. In some embodiments,R¹⁰ is C₄ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₅ alkyl. In someother embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₇alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₈ alkyl. In some embodiments,R¹⁰ is C₉ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁₀ alkyl. In yet otherembodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁₁ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁₂alkyl.

In some embodiments, R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a 5-18 membered mono orbicyclic heterocycle. In some embodiments the heterocycle is a 5 or 6membered monocyclic heterocycle. For example, in some embodimentslinkage (B) has the following structure (IV):

wherein Z represents a 5 or 6 membered monocyclic heterocycle.

In other embodiments, heterocycle is bicyclic, for example a 12-memberedbicyclic heterocycle. The heterocycle may be piperizinyl. Theheterocycle may be morpholino. The heterocycle may be piperidinyl. Theheterocycle may be decahydroisoquinoline. Representative heterocyclesinclude the following:

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl.

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₂-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ isethyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₃ alkyl. In yet other embodiments,R¹¹ is isopropyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₄ alkyl. In otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₆ alkyl. Inother embodiments, R¹¹ is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₈alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₉ alkyl. In yet other embodiments,R¹¹ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₁ alkyl. In someembodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹is methylamino. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is ethylamino. In otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₃ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₄aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₅ aminoalkyl. In otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₆ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₇aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₈ aminoalkyl. In otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₉ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₀aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₁ aminoalkyl. In otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₂ aminoalkyl.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. In yet otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₁ alkylcarbonyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₂alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₃ alkylcarbonyl. In yetother embodiments, R¹¹ is C₄ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ isC₅ alkylcarbonyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₆ alkylcarbonyl. Inother embodiments, R¹¹ is C₇ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments,R¹¹ is C₈ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₉ alkylcarbonyl.In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₀ alkylcarbonyl. In some otherembodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₁ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₂alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is —C(═O)(CH₂)_(n)CO₂H,where n is 1 to 6. For example, in some embodiments, n is 1. In otherembodiments, n is 2. In yet other embodiments, n is 3. In some otherembodiments, n is 4. In yet other embodiments, n is 5. In otherembodiments, n is 6.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is aryl. For example, in some embodiments, R¹¹is phenyl. In some embodiments, the phenyl is substituted, for examplewith a nitro group.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is heteroaryl. For example, in someembodiments, R¹¹ is pyridinyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is pyrimidinyl.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is heterocyclyl. For example, in someembodiments, K is piperidinyl, for example piperidin-4-yl.

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is ethyl, isopropyl, piperidinyl, pyrimidinyl,cholate, deoxycholate, or —C(═O)(CH₂)_(n)CO₂H, where n is 1 to 6.

In some embodiments, R is an electron pair. In other embodiments, R ishydrogen, and in other embodiments R is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In someembodiments, R is methyl. In some embodiments, R is ethyl. In otherembodiments, R is C₃ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is isopropyl. Insome other embodiments, R is C₄ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is C₅alkyl. In some embodiments, R is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R is C₇alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is C₈ alkyl. In other embodiments, Ris C₉ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is C₁₀ alkyl. In yet otherembodiments, R is C₁₁ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently,hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴,—NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, oxo, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl,amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl,guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl,heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, ateach occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl

In some embodiments, R¹² is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl. In someembodiments, R¹² is —NH₂. In some embodiments, R¹² is —CONH₂. In someembodiments, R¹² is —NR¹³R¹⁴. In some embodiments, R¹² is —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵.In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments,R¹² is oxo. In some embodiments, R¹² is —CN. In some embodiments, R¹² istrifluoromethyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidyl. In someembodiments, R¹² is amidinyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidinylalkyl.In some embodiments, R¹² is amidinylalkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments,R¹² is guanidinyl, for example mono methylguanidynyl ordimethylguanidinyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is guanidinylalkyl. In someembodiments, R¹² is amidinylalkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² ischolate. In some embodiments, R¹² is deoxycholate. In some embodiments,R¹² is aryl. In some embodiments, R¹² is heteroaryl. In someembodiments, R¹² is heterocycle. In some embodiments, R¹² is —SR¹³. Insome embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² isdimethyl amine.

In other embodiments, R¹² is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² isethyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₃ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² isisopropyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₄ alkyl. In other embodiments,R¹² is C₅ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ alkyl. In someother embodiments, R¹² is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₈alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₉ alkyl. In some embodiments,R¹² is C₁₀ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₁ alkyl. In otherembodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, the alkylmoiety is substituted with one or more oxygen atom to form an ethermoiety, for example a methoxymethyl moiety.

In some embodiments, R¹² is methylamino. In other embodiments, R¹² isethylamino. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₃ aminoalkyl. In someembodiments, R¹² is C₄ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₅aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ aminoalkyl. In someembodiments, R¹² is C₇ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₈aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₉ aminoalkyl. In someother embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹²is C₁₁ aminoalkyl. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ aminoalkyl. In someembodiments, the amino alkyl is a dimethylamino alkyl.

In yet other embodiments, R¹² is acetyl. In some other embodiments, R¹²is C₂ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₃ alkylcarbonyl. Inyet other embodiments, R¹² is C₄ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹²is C₅ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ alkylcarbonyl.In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₇ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments,R¹² is C₈ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₉alkylcarbonyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ alkylcarbonyl. Insome embodiments, R¹² is C₁₁ alkylcarbonyl. In other embodiments, R¹² isC₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. The alkylcarbonyl is substituted with a carboxymoiety, for example the alkylcarbonyl is substituted to form a succinicacid moiety (i.e., a 3-carboxyalkylcarbonyl). In other embodiments, thealkylcarbonyl is substituted with a terminal —SH group.

In some embodiments, R¹² is amidyl. In some embodiments, the amidylcomprises an alkyl moiety which is further substituted, for example with—SH, carbamate, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, theamidyl is substituted with an aryl moiety, for example phenyl. Incertain embodiments, R¹² may have the following structure (IX):

wherein R¹⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, —CN, aryl or heteroaryl.

In some embodiments, R¹² is methoxy. In other embodiments, R¹² isethoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₃ alkoxy. In some embodiments,R¹² is C₄ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₅ alkoxy. In some otherembodiments, R¹² is C₆ alkoxy. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₇ alkoxy.In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₈ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² isC₉ alkoxy. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ alkoxy. In some embodiments,R¹² is C₁₁ alkoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ alkoxy.

In certain embodiments, R¹² is pyrrolidinyl, for examplepyrrolidin-1-yl. In other embodiments, R¹² is piperidinyl, for examplepiperidin-1-yl or piperidin-4-yl. In other embodiment, R¹² ismorpholino, for example morpholin-4-yl. In other embodiments, R¹² isphenyl, and in even further embodiments, the phenyl is substituted, forexample with a nitro group. In still other embodiments, R¹² ispyrimidinyl, for example pyrimidin-2-yl.

In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence,independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ ismethyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is ethyl. In otherembodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₃ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³,R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is isopropyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₄alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₅ alkyl. In some otherembodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴or R¹⁵ is C₇ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₈alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₉ alkyl. In someembodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴or R¹⁵ is C₁₁ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₁₂alkyl.

As noted above, in some embodiments, R¹² is amidyl substituted with anaryl moiety. In this regard, each occurrence of R¹⁶ may be the same ordifferent. In certain of these embodiments, R¹⁶ is hydrogen. In otherembodiments, R¹⁶ is —CN. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is heteroaryl, forexample tretrazolyl. In certain other embodiments, R¹⁶ is methoxy. Inother embodiments, R¹⁶ is aryl, and the aryl is optionally substituted.Optional substitutents in this regard include: C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂alkoxy, for example methoxy; trifluoromethoxy; halo, for example chloro;and trifluoromethyl.

In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ isethyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₃ alkyl. In some other embodiments,R¹⁶ is isopropyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₄ alkyl. In otherembodiments, R¹⁶ is C₅ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₆ alkyl.In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ isC₈ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₉ alkyl. In some otherembodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₀ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₁ alkyl.In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is methoxy. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is ethoxy.In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₃ alkoxy. In some other embodiments,R¹⁶ is C₄ alkoxy. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₅ alkoxy. In some otherembodiments, R¹⁶ is C₆ alkoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₇alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₈ alkoxy. In yet otherembodiments, R¹⁶ is C₉ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₀alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₁ alkoxy. In some otherembodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₂ alkoxy.

In some other embodiments, R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a 12-18 membered crownether. For example, in some embodiments, the crown ether s 18 membered,and in other embodiments the crown ether is 15 membered. In certainembodiments, R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a heterocycle having one of thefollowing structures (X) or (XI):

In some embodiments, R⁸, R⁹ or R³ join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 memberedheterocycle. For example, in some embodiments, R³ joins with R¹⁰ to forma 5-7 membered heterocycle. In some embodiments, the heterocycle is5-membered. In other embodiments, the heterocycle is 6-membered. Inother embodiments, the heterocycle is 7-membered. In some embodiments,the heterocycle is represented by the following structure (XII):

wherein Z′ represents a 5-7 membered heterocycle. In certain embodimentsof structure (XI), R¹² is hydrogen at each occurrence. For example,linkage (B) may have one of the following structures (B1), (B2) or (B3):

In certain other embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl or amidylwhich is further substituted with an arylphosphoryl moiety, for examplea triphenyl phosporyl moiety. Examples of linkages having this structureinclude B56 and B55.

In certain embodiment, linkage (B) does not have any of the structuresA1-A5. Table 2 shows representative linkages of type (A) and (B).

TABLE 2 Representative Intersubunit Linkages No. Name Structure A1 PMO

A2 PMO⁺ (unprotonated form depicted)

A3 PMO⁺ (+)

A4 PMO^(mepip) (m+)

A5 PMO^(GUX)

B1 PMO^(cp)

B2 PMO^(cps)

B3 PMO^(cpr)

B4 PMO^(Shc)

B5 PMO^(morpholino) (m)

B6 PMO^(tri) (t)

B7 PMO^(hex) (h)

B8 PMO^(dodec)

B9 PMO^(dihex)

B10 PMO^(apn) (a)

B11 PMO^(pyr) (p)

B12 PMO^(pyr) (HCl salt)

B13 PMO^(rba)

B14 PMO^(sba)

B15 PMO^(dimethylapn)

B16 PMO^(etpip)

B17 PMO^(iprpip)

B18 PMO^(pyrQMe)

B19 PMO^(cb)

B20 PMO^(ma)

B21 PMO^(bu)

B22 PMO^(bi)

B23 PMO^(pip)

B24 PMO^(odmb)

B25 PMO^(tfb)

B26 PMO^(ctfb)

B27 PMO^(ptfb)

B28 PMO^(dcb)

B29 PMO^(dmb)

B30 PMO^(hy)

B31 PMO^(6ce)

B32 PMO^(b)

B33 PMO^(q)

B34 PMO^(npp)

B35 PMO^(o)

B36 PMO^(4ce)

B37 PMO^(5ce)

B38 PMO^(f3p)

B39 PMO^(cyp)

B40 PMO^(mop)

B41 PMO^(pp)

B42 PMO^(dmepip)

B43 PMO^(NPpip)

B44 PMO^(bipip)

B45 PMO^(suc)

46 PMO^(glutaric)

B47 PMO^(tet)

B48 PMO^(thiol) (SH)

B49 PMO^(pros)

B50 PMO^(pror)

B51 PMO^(tme)

B52 PMO^(ca)

  CA = Cholate B53 PMO^(dca)

  dCA = Deoxycholate B54 PMO^(guan) (g)

B55 PMO^(+phos)

B56 PMO^(apnphos)

In the sequences and discussion that follows, the above names for thelinkages are often used. For example, a base comprising a PMO^(apn)linkage is illustrated as ^(apn)B, where B is a base. Other linkages aredesignated similarly. In addition, abbreviated designations may be used,for example, the abbreviated designations in parentheses above may beused (e.g., ^(a)B, refers to ^(apn)B). Other readily identifiableabbreviations may also be used.

B. Oligomers with Modified Terminal Groups

In addition to the carrier peptide, the conjugate may also comprise anoligomer comprising modified terminal groups. Applicants have found thatmodification of the 3′ and/or 5′ end of the oligomer with variouschemical moieties provides beneficial therapeutic properties (e.g.,enhanced cell delivery, potency, and/or tissue distribution, etc.) tothe conjugates. In various embodiments, the modified terminal groupscomprise a hydrophobic moiety, while in other embodiments the modifiedterminal groups comprise a hydrophilic moiety. The modified terminalgroups may be present with or without the linkages described above. Forexample, in some embodiments, the oligomers to which the carrier peptideis conjugated comprise one or more modified terminal groups and linkagesof type (A), for example linkages wherein X is —N(CH₃)₂. In otherembodiments, the oligomers comprise one or more modified terminal groupand linkages of type (B), for example linkages wherein X is4-aminopiperidin-1-yl (i.e., APN). In yet other embodiments, theoligomers comprise one or more modified terminal group and a mixture oflinkages (A) and (B). For example, the oligomers may comprise one ormore modified terminal group (e.g., trityl or triphenyl acetyl) andlinkages wherein X is —N(CH₃)₂ and linkages wherein X is4-aminopiperidin-1-yl. Other combinations of modified terminal groupsand modified linkages also provide favorable therapeutic properties tothe oligomers.

In one embodiment, the oligomers comprising terminal modifications havethe following structure (XVII):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein X, W and Y are as defined above forany of linkages (A) and (B) and:

R¹⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen or C₁-C₆alkyl;

R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen, thecarrier peptide, a natural or non-natural amino acid, C₂-C₃₀alkylcarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹ or R²⁰;

R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl,C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl,C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl,C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂;

Pi is independently, at each occurrence, a base-pairing moiety;

L¹ is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising bondsselected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide, ester,disulfide, carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate, phosphoroamidate,phosphorothioate, piperazine and phosphodiester; and

x is an integer of 0 or greater; and wherein at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹is R²⁰; and

wherein at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is R²⁰ and provided that both of R¹⁷and R¹⁸ are not absent.

The oligomers with modified terminal groups may comprise any number oflinkages of types (A) and (B). For example, the oligomers may compriseonly linkage type (A).

For example, X in each linkage may be —N(CH₃)₂. Alternatively, theoligomers may only comprise linkage (B). In certain embodiments, theoligomers comprise a mixture of linkages (A) and (B), for example from 1to 4 linkages of type (B) and the remainder of the linkages being oftype (A). Linkages in this regard include, but are not limited to,linkages wherein X is aminopiperidinyl for type (B) and dimethyl aminofor type (A).

In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is absent. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ ishydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments,R¹⁷ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁷ is ethyl. In someembodiments, R¹⁷ is C₃ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁷ isisopropyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₄ alkyl. In yet otherembodiments, R¹⁷ is C₅ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₆alkyl.

In other embodiments, R¹⁸ is absent. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ ishydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is the carrier peptide. In someembodiments, R¹⁸ is a natural or non-natural amino acid, for exampletrimethylglycine. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is R²⁰.

In other embodiments, R¹⁹ is absent. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ ishydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is the carrier peptide. In someembodiments, R¹⁹ is a natural or non-natural amino acid, for exampletrimethylglycine. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is —C(═O)OR¹⁷, for exampleR¹⁹ may have the following structure:

In other embodiments R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is C₂-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, for example—C(═O)(CH₂)_(n)CO₂H, where n is 1 to 6, for example 2. In otherexamples, R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is acetyl.

In some embodiments, R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independentlyguanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl,C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₆-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl,C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂,wherein R²¹ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl comprising one or more oxygen or hydroxylmoieties or combinations thereof and each R²² is C₆-C₁₂ aryloxy.

In certain other embodiments, R¹⁹ is —C(═O)OR²¹ and R¹⁸ is hydrogen,guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl,C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl,C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂, whereineach R²² is C₆-C₁₂ aryloxy.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independentlyguanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl,C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl,C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂. While inother examples, R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl,heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀aralkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂.

In some embodiments R²⁰ is guanidinyl, for example mono methylguanidynylor dimethylguanidinyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is heterocyclyl. Forexample, in some embodiments, R²⁰ is piperidin-4-yl. In someembodiments, the piperidin-4-yl is substituted with trityl or Bocgroups. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl. In otherembodiments, R²⁰ is C₆-C₃₀ aryl.

In some embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl. For example, In someembodiments, R²⁰ has the following structure (XVIII):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl,heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl, and wherein one R²³ mayjoin with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. In some embodiments,at least one R²³ is hydrogen, for example, in some embodiments, each R²³is hydrogen. In other embodiments, at least one R²³ is C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy,for example in some embodiments, each R²³ is methoxy. In otherembodiments, at least one R²³ is heteroaryl, for example in someembodiments, at least one R²³ has one of the following structures(XVIIIa) of (XVIIIb):

In still other embodiments, one R²³ joins with another R²³ to form aheterocyclyl ring. For example, in one embodiment, R²⁰ is5-carboxyfluorescein.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl. For example, invarious embodiments, R²⁰ has one of the following structures (XIX), (XX)or (XXI):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl,heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl, wherein one R²³ may joinwith another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring, X is —OH or halo and m isan integer from 0 to 6. In some specific embodiments, m is 0. In otherembodiments, m is 1, while in other embodiments, m is 2. In otherembodiments, at least one R²³ is hydrogen, for example in someembodiments each R²³ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, X is hydrogen. Inother embodiments, X is —OH. In other embodiments, X is Cl. In otherembodiments, at least one R²³ is C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, for example methoxy.

In still other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, for example trityl.In other embodiments, R²⁰ is methoxy trityl. In some embodiments, R²⁰has the following structure (XXII):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl,heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl, and wherein one R²³ mayjoin with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. For example, in someembodiments each R²³ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, at least one R²³is C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, for example methoxy.

In yet other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl and R²⁰ has thefollowing structure (XXIII):

In some embodiments, at least one R²³ is halo, for example chloro. Insome other embodiments, one R²³ is chloro in the para position.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl. For example, In someembodiments, R²⁰ is a C₄-C₂₀ alkyl and optionally comprises one or moredouble bonds. For example, In some embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₄₋₁₀ alkylcomprising a triple bond, for example a terminal triple bond. In someembodiments, R²⁰ is hexyn-6-yl. In some embodiments, R²⁰ has one of thefollowing structures (XXIV), (XXV), (XXVI) or (XXVII):

In still other embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, for example aC₃-C₁₀ alkyl carbonyl. In some embodiments, R²⁰ is —C(═O)(CH₂)_(p)SH or—C(═O)(CH₂)_(p)SSHet, wherein p is an integer from 1 to 6 and Het is aheteroaryl. For example, p may be 1 or p may be 2. In other example Hetis pyridinyl, for example pyridin-2-yl. In other embodiments, the C₃-C₃₀alkylcarbonyl is substituted with a further oligomer, for example insome embodiments the oligomer comprises a C₃-C₃₀ alkyl carbonyl at the3′ position which links the oligomer to the 3′ position of anotheroligomer. Such terminal modifications are included within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₃-C₃₀ alkyl carbonyl which is furthersubstituted with an arylphosphoryl moiety, for example triphenylphosphoryl. Examples of such R²⁰ groups include structure 33 in Table 3.

In other examples, R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, for example C₅-C₇alkyl carbonyl. In these embodiments, R₂₀ has the following structure(XXVIII):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl,heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl, and wherein one R²³ mayjoin with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. In some embodiments,R²³ is heterocyclylalkyl, for example in some embodiments R²³ has thefollowing structure:

In some other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl. Inother embodiments, R²⁰ is C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments,R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀aryloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl.In other embodiments, R²⁰ is —P(═O)(R²²)₂, wherein each R²² is C⁶-C¹²aryloxy, for example in some embodiments R²⁰ has the following structure(C24):

In other embodiments, R²⁰ comprises one or more halo atoms. For example,in some embodiments R²⁰ comprises a perfluoro analogue of any of theabove R²⁰ moieties. In other embodiments, R²⁰ isp-trifluoromethylphenyl, trifluoromethyltrityl, perfluoropentyl orpentafluorophenyl.

In some embodiments the 3′ terminus comprises a modification and inother embodiments the 5′ terminus comprises a modification. In otherembodiments both the 3′ and 5′ termini comprise modifications.Accordingly, in some embodiments, R¹⁸ is absent and R¹⁹ is R²⁰. In otherembodiments, R¹⁹ is absent and R¹⁸ is R²⁰. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁸and R¹⁹ are each R²⁰.

In some embodiments, the oligomer comprises a cell-penetrating peptidein addition to a 3′ or 5′ modification. Accordingly, in some embodimentsR¹⁹ is a cell-penetrating peptide and R¹⁸ is R²⁰. In other embodiments,R¹⁸ is a cell-penetrating peptide and R¹⁹ is R²⁰. In further embodimentsof the foregoing, the cell-penetrating peptide is an arginine-richpeptide.

In some embodiments, the linker L¹ which links the 5′ terminal group(i.e., R¹⁹) to the oligomer may be present or absent. The linkercomprises any number of functional groups and lengths provided thelinker retains its ability to link the 5′ terminal group to the oligomerand provided that the linker does not interfere with the oligomer'sability to bind to a target sequence in a sequence specific manner. Inone embodiment, L comprises phosphorodiamidate and piperazine bonds. Forexample, in some embodiments L has the following structure (XXIX):

wherein R²⁴ is absent, hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R²⁴is absent. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is hydrogen. In some embodiments,R²⁴ is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is methyl. In otherembodiments, R²⁴ is ethyl. In yet other embodiments, R²⁴ is C₃ alkyl. Insome other embodiments, R²⁴ is isopropyl. In yet other embodiments, R²⁴is C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is C₅ alkyl. In yet otherembodiments, R²⁴ is C₆ alkyl.

In yet other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, and R²⁰ has thefollowing structure (XXX):

wherein R²⁵ is hydrogen or —SR²⁶, wherein R²⁶ is hydrogen, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl,heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl, and q is an integer from 0 to 6.

In further embodiments of any of the above, R²³ is, at each occurrence,independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, aryl,heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl.

In some other embodiments, only the 3′ terminus of the oligomer isconjugated to one of the groups noted above. In some other embodiments,only the 5′ terminus of the oligomer is conjugated to one of the groupsnoted above. In other embodiments, both the 3′ and 5′ termini compriseone of the groups noted above. The terminal group may be selected fromany one of the groups noted above or any of the specific groupsillustrated in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Representative Terminal Groups No. Name Structure C1Trimethoxybenzoyl

C2 9-fluorene-carboxyl

C3 4-carbazolylbenzoyl

C4 4-indazolylonebenzoyl

C5 Farnesyl

C6 Geranyl

C7 Prenyl

C8 Diphenylacetyl

C9 Chlorodiphenylacetyl

C10 Hydroxydiphenylacetyl

C11 Triphenylpropionyl

C12 Triphenylpropyl

C13 Triphenylacetyl

C14 Trityl (Tr)

C15 Methoxytrityl (MeOTr)

C16 Methylsuccinimidyl- cyclohexoyl

C17 Thioacetyl

C18 COCH₂CH₂SSPy

C19 Guanidinyl

C20 Trimethylglycine

C21 Lauroyl

C22 Triethyleneglycoloyl (EG3)

C23 Succinicacetyl

C24 Diphenylphosphoryl

C25 Piperidin-4-yl

C26 Tritylpiperidin-4-yl

C27 Boc-Piperidin-4-yl

C28 Hexyn-6-yl

C29 5-carboxyfluorescein

C30 Benzhydryl

C31 p-Chlorobenzhydryl

C32 Piperazinyl (pip)

C33 Triphenylphos

C34 Dimerized

  Oligo = a further oligomer

C. Properties of the Conjugates

As noted above, the present disclosure is directed to conjugates ofcarrier peptides and oligonucleotide analogues (i.e., oligomers). Theoligomers may comprise various modifications which impart desirableproperties (e.g., increased antisense activity) to the oligomers. Incertain embodiments, the oligomer comprises a backbone comprising asequence of morpholino ring structures joined by intersubunit linkages,the intersubunit linkages joining a 3′-end of one morpholino ringstructure to a 5′-end of an adjacent morpholino ring structure, whereineach morpholino ring structure is bound to a base-pairing moiety, suchthat the oligomer can bind in a sequence-specific manner to a targetnucleic acid. The morpholino ring structures may have the followingstructure (i):

wherein Pi is, at each occurrence, independently a base-pairing moiety.

Each morpholino ring structure supports a base pairing moiety (Pi), toform a sequence of base pairing moieties which is typically designed tohybridize to a selected antisense target in a cell or in a subject beingtreated. The base pairing moiety may be a purine or pyrimidine found innative DNA or RNA (A, G, C, T, or U) or an analog, such as hypoxanthine(the base component of the nucleoside inosine) or 5-methyl cytosine.Analog bases that confer improved binding affinity to the oligomer canalso be utilized. Exemplary analogs in this regard includeC5-propynyl-modified pyrimidines, 9-(aminoethoxy)phenoxazine (G-clamp)and the like.

As noted above, the oligomer may be modified, in accordance with anaspect of the invention, to include one or more (B) linkages, e.g. up toabout 1 per every 2-5 uncharged linkages, typically 3-5 per every 10uncharged linkages. Certain embodiments also include one or morelinkages of type (B). In some embodiments, optimal improvement inantisense activity is seen where up to about half of the backbonelinkages are type (B). Some, but not maximum enhancement is typicallyseen with a small number e.g., 10-20% of (B) linkages.

In one embodiment, the linkage types (A) and (B) are interspersed alongthe backbone. In some embodiments, the oligomer does not have a strictlyalternating pattern of (A) and (B) linkages along its entire length. Inaddition to the carrier peptide, the oligomers may optionally comprise a5′ and/or 3′ modification as described above.

Also considered are oligomers having blocks of (A) linkages and blocksof (B) linkages; for example, a central block of (A) linkages may beflanked by blocks of (B) linkages, or vice versa. In one embodiment, theoligomer has approximately equal-length 5′,3; and center regions, andthe percentage of (B) or (A) linkages in the center region is greaterthan about 50%, o greater than about 70%. Oligomers for use in antisenseapplications generally range in length from about 10 to about 40subunits, more preferably about 15 to 25 subunits. For example, anoligomer of the invention having 19-20 subunits, a useful length for anantisense oligomer, may ideally have two to seven, e.g. four to six, orthree to five, (B) linkages, and the remainder (A) linkages. An oligomerhaving 14-15 subunits may ideally have two to five, e.g. 3 or 4, (B)linkages and the remainder (A) linkages.

The morpholino subunits may also be linked by non-phosphorus-basedintersubunit linkages, as described further below.

Other oligonucleotide analog linkages which are uncharged in theirunmodified state but which could also bear a pendant amine substituentcan also be used. For example, a 5′ nitrogen atom on a morpholino ringcould be employed in a sulfamide linkage (or a urea linkage, wherephosphorus is replaced with carbon or sulfur, respectively).

In some embodiments for antisense applications, the oligomer may be 100%complementary to the nucleic acid target sequence, or it may includemismatches, e.g., to accommodate variants, as long as a heteroduplexformed between the oligomer and nucleic acid target sequence issufficiently stable to withstand the action of cellular nucleases andother modes of degradation which may occur in vivo. Mismatches, ifpresent, are less destabilizing toward the end regions of the hybridduplex than in the middle. The number of mismatches allowed will dependon the length of the oligomer, the percentage of G:C base pairs in theduplex, and the position of the mismatch(es) in the duplex, according towell understood principles of duplex stability. Although such anantisense oligomer is not necessarily 100% complementary to the nucleicacid target sequence, it is effective to stably and specifically bind tothe target sequence, such that a biological activity of the nucleic acidtarget, e.g., expression of encoded protein(s), is modulated.

The stability of the duplex formed between an oligomer and the targetsequence is a function of the binding T_(m) and the susceptibility ofthe duplex to cellular enzymatic cleavage. The T_(m) of an antisensecompound with respect to complementary-sequence RNA may be measured byconventional methods, such as those described by Hames et al., NucleicAcid Hybridization, IRL Press, 1985, pp. 107-108 or as described inMiyada C. G. and Wallace R. B., 1987, Oligonucleotide hybridizationtechniques, Methods Enzymol. Vol. 154 pp. 94-107.

In some embodiments, each antisense oligomer has a binding T_(m), withrespect to a complementary-sequence RNA, of greater than bodytemperature or in other embodiments greater than 50° C. In otherembodiments T_(m)'s are in the range 60-80° C. or greater. According towell known principles, the T_(m) of an oligomer compound, with respectto a complementary-based RNA hybrid, can be increased by increasing theratio of C:G paired bases in the duplex, and/or by increasing the length(in base pairs) of the heteroduplex. At the same time, for purposes ofoptimizing cellular uptake, it may be advantageous to limit the size ofthe oligomer. For this reason, compounds that show high T_(m) (50° C. orgreater) at a length of 20 bases or less are generally preferred overthose requiring greater than 20 bases for high T_(m) values. For someapplications, longer oligomers, for example longer than 20 bases mayhave certain advantages. For example, in certain embodiments longeroligomers may find particular utility for use in exon skippin or splicemodulation.

The targeting sequence bases may be normal DNA bases or analoguesthereof, e.g., uracil and inosine that are capable of Watson-Crick basepairing to target-sequence RNA bases.

The oligomers may also incorporate guanine bases in place of adeninewhen the target nucleotide is a uracil residue. This is useful when thetarget sequence varies across different viral species and the variationat any given nucleotide residue is either cytosine or uracil. Byutilizing guanine in the targeting oligomer at the position ofvariability, the well-known ability of guanine to base pair with uracil(termed C/U:G base pairing) can be exploited. By incorporating guanineat these locations, a single oligomer can effectively target a widerrange of RNA target variability.

The compounds (e.g., oligomers, intersubunit linkages, terminal groups)may exist in different isomeric forms, for example structural isomers(e.g., tautomers). With regard to stereoisomers, the compounds may havechiral centers and may occur as racemates, enantiomerically enrichedmixtures, individual enantiomers, mixture or diastereomers or individualdiastereomers. All such isomeric forms are included within the presentinvention, including mixtures thereof. The compounds may also possessaxial chirality which may result in atropisomers. Furthermore, some ofthe crystalline forms of the compounds may exist as polymorphs, whichare included in the present invention. In addition, some of thecompounds may also form solvates with water or other organic solvents.Such solvates are similarly included within the scope of this invention.

The oligomers described herein may be used in methods of inhibitingproduction of a protein or replication of a virus. Accordingly, in oneembodiment a nucleic acid encoding such a protein is exposed to anoligomer as disclosed herein. In further embodiments of the foregoing,the antisense oligomer comprises either a 5′ or 3′ modified terminalgroup or combinations thereof, as disclosed herein, and the base pairingmoieties B form a sequence effective to hybridize to a portion of thenucleic acid at a location effective to inhibit production of theprotein. In one embodiment, the location is an ATG start codon region ofan mRNA, a splice site of a pre-mRNA, or a viral target sequence asdescribed below.

In one embodiment, the oligomer has a T_(m) with respect to binding tothe target sequence of greater than about 50° C., and it is taken up bymammalian cells or bacterial cells. In another embodiment, the oligomermay be conjugated to a transport moiety, for example an arginine-richpeptide, as described herein to facilitate such uptake. In anotherembodiment, the terminal modifications described herein can function asa transport moiety to facilitate uptake by mammalian and/or bacterialcells.

The preparation and properties of morpholino oligomers is described inmore detail below and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,444 and WO/2009/064471,each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

D. Formulation and Administration of the Conjugates

The present disclosure also provides for formulation and delivery of thedisclosed conjugate. Accordingly, in one embodiment the presentdisclosure is directed to a composition comprising a peptide-oligomerconjugate as disclosed herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

Effective delivery of the conjugate to the target nucleic acid is animportant aspect of treatment. Routes of antisense oligomer deliveryinclude, but are not limited to, various systemic routes, including oraland parenteral routes, e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal,and intramuscular, as well as inhalation, transdermal and topicaldelivery. The appropriate route may be determined by one of skill in theart, as appropriate to the condition of the subject under treatment. Forexample, an appropriate route for delivery of an antisense oligomer inthe treatment of a viral infection of the skin is topical delivery,while delivery of a antisense oligomer for the treatment of a viralrespiratory infection is by inhalation. The oligomer may also bedelivered directly to the site of viral infection, or to thebloodstream.

The conjugate may be administered in any convenient vehicle which isphysiologically and/or pharmaceutically acceptable. Such a compositionmay include any of a variety of standard pharmaceutically acceptablecarriers employed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to, saline, phosphate buffered saline(PBS), water, aqueous ethanol, emulsions, such as oil/water emulsions ortriglyceride emulsions, tablets and capsules. The choice of suitablephysiologically acceptable carrier will vary dependent upon the chosenmode of administration.

The compounds (e.g., conjugates) of the present invention may generallybe utilized as the free acid or free base. Alternatively, the compoundsof this invention may be used in the form of acid or base additionsalts. Acid addition salts of the free amino compounds of the presentinvention may be prepared by methods well known in the art, and may beformed from organic and inorganic acids. Suitable organic acids includemaleic, fumaric, benzoic, ascorbic, succinic, methanesulfonic, acetic,trifluoroacetic, oxalic, propionic, tartaric, salicylic, citric,gluconic, lactic, mandelic, cinnamic, aspartic, stearic, palmitic,glycolic, glutamic, and benzenesulfonic acids. Suitable inorganic acidsinclude hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, and nitricacids. Base addition salts included those salts that form with thecarboxylate anion and include salts formed with organic and inorganiccations such as those chosen from the alkali and alkaline earth metals(for example, lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, barium andcalcium), as well as the ammonium ion and substituted derivativesthereof (for example, dibenzylammonium, benzylammonium,2-hydroxyethylammonium, and the like). Thus, the term “pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt” of structure (I) is intended to encompass any and allacceptable salt forms.

In addition, prodrugs are also included within the context of thisinvention. Prodrugs are any covalently bonded carriers that release acompound of structure (I) in vivo when such prodrug is administered to apatient. Prodrugs are generally prepared by modifying functional groupsin a way such that the modification is cleaved, either by routinemanipulation or in vivo, yielding the parent compound. Prodrugs include,for example, compounds of this invention wherein hydroxy, amine orsulfhydryl groups are bonded to any group that, when administered to apatient, cleaves to form the hydroxy, amine or sulfhydryl groups. Thus,representative examples of prodrugs include (but are not limited to)acetate, formate and benzoate derivatives of alcohol and aminefunctional groups of the compounds of structure (I). Further, in thecase of a carboxylic acid (—COOH), esters may be employed, such asmethyl esters, ethyl esters, and the like.

In some instances, liposomes may be employed to facilitate uptake of theantisense oligonucleotide into cells. (See, e.g., Williams, S. A.,Leukemia 10(12):1980-1989, 1996; Lappalainen et al., Antiviral Res.23:119, 1994; Uhlmann et al., antisense oligonucleotides: a newtherapeutic principle, Chemical Reviews, Volume 90, No. 4, pages544-584, 1990; Gregoriadis, G., Chapter 14, Liposomes, Drug Carriers inBiology and Medicine, pp. 287-341, Academic Press, 1979). Hydrogels mayalso be used as vehicles for antisense oligomer administration, forexample, as described in WO 93/01286. Alternatively, theoligonucleotides may be administered in microspheres or microparticles.(See, e.g., Wu, G. Y. and Wu, C. H., J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432,1987). Alternatively, the use of gas-filled microbubbles complexed withthe antisense oligomers can enhance delivery to target tissues, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,747. Sustained release compositions mayalso be used. These may include semipermeable polymeric matrices in theform of shaped articles such as films or microcapsules.

In one embodiment, antisense inhibition is effective in treatinginfection of a host animal by a virus, by contacting a cell infectedwith the virus with an antisense agent effective to inhibit thereplication of the specific virus. The antisense agent is administeredto a mammalian subject, e.g., human or domestic animal, infected with agiven virus, in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. It is contemplatedthat the antisense oligonucleotide arrests the growth of the RNA virusin the host. The RNA virus may be decreased in number or eliminated withlittle or no detrimental effect on the normal growth or development ofthe host.

In one aspect of the method, the subject is a human subject, e.g., apatient diagnosed as having a localized or systemic viral infection. Thecondition of a patient may also dictate prophylactic administration ofan antisense oligomer of the invention, e.g. in the case of a patientwho (1) is immunocompromised; (2) is a burn victim; (3) has anindwelling catheter; or (4) is about to undergo or has recentlyundergone surgery. In one preferred embodiment, the oligomer is aphosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, contained in a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, and is delivered orally. In another preferredembodiment, the oligomer is a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer,contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and is deliveredintravenously (i.v.).

In another application of the method, the subject is a livestock animal,e.g., a chicken, turkey, pig, cow or goat, etc, and the treatment iseither prophylactic or therapeutic. The invention also includes alivestock and poultry food composition containing a food grainsupplemented with a subtherapeutic amount of an antiviral antisensecompound of the type described above. Also contemplated is, in a methodof feeding livestock and poultry with a food grain supplemented withsubtherapeutic levels of an antiviral, an improvement in which the foodgrain is supplemented with a subtherapeutic amount of an antiviraloligonucleotide composition as described above.

In one embodiment, the conjugate is administered in an amount and mannereffective to result in a peak blood concentration of at least 200-400 nMantisense oligomer. Typically, one or more doses of antisense oligomerare administered, generally at regular intervals, for a period of aboutone to two weeks. Preferred doses for oral administration are from about1-1000 mg oligomer per 70 kg. In some cases, doses of greater than 1000mg oligomer/patient may be necessary. For i.v. administration, preferreddoses are from about 0.5 mg to 1000 mg oligomer per 70 kg. The conjugatemay be administered at regular intervals for a short time period, e.g.,daily for two weeks or less. However, in some cases the conjugate isadministered intermittently over a longer period of time. Administrationmay be followed by, or concurrent with, administration of an antibioticor other therapeutic treatment. The treatment regimen may be adjusted(dose, frequency, route, etc.) as indicated, based on the results ofimmunoassays, other biochemical tests and physiological examination ofthe subject under treatment.

An effective in vivo treatment regimen using the conjugates of theinvention may vary according to the duration, dose, frequency and routeof administration, as well as the condition of the subject undertreatment (i.e., prophylactic administration versus administration inresponse to localized or systemic infection). Accordingly, such in vivotherapy will often require monitoring by tests appropriate to theparticular type of viral infection under treatment, and correspondingadjustments in the dose or treatment regimen, in order to achieve anoptimal therapeutic outcome. Treatment may be monitored, e.g., bygeneral indicators of disease and/or infection, such as complete bloodcount (CBC), nucleic acid detection methods, immunodiagnostic tests,viral culture, or detection of heteroduplex.

The efficacy of an in vivo administered antiviral conjugate of theinvention in inhibiting or eliminating the growth of one or more typesof RNA virus may be determined from biological samples (tissue, blood,urine etc.) taken from a subject prior to, during and subsequent toadministration of the antisense oligomer. Assays of such samples include(1) monitoring the presence or absence of heteroduplex formation withtarget and non-target sequences, using procedures known to those skilledin the art, e.g., an electrophoretic gel mobility assay; (2) monitoringthe amount of viral protein production, as determined by standardtechniques such as ELISA or Western blotting, or (3) measuring theeffect on viral titer, e.g. by the method of Spearman-Karber. (See, forexample, Pari, G. S. et al., Antimicrob. Agents and Chemotherapy39(5):1157-1161, 1995; Anderson, K. P. et al., Antimicrob. Agents andChemotherapy 40(9):2004-2011, 1996, Cottral, G. E. (ed) in: Manual ofStandard Methods for Veterinary Microbiology, pp. 60-93, 1978).

E. Preparation of the Conjugates

The morpholino subunits, the modified intersubunit linkages andoligomers comprising the same can be prepared as described in theexamples and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,185,444 and 7,943,762 which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety. The morpholino subunits canbe prepared according to the following general Reaction Scheme I.

Referring to Reaction Scheme 1, wherein B represents a base pairingmoiety and PG represents a protecting group, the morpholino subunits maybe prepared from the corresponding ribinucleoside (1) as shown. Themorpholino subunit (2) may be optionally protected by reaction with asuitable protecting group precursor, for example trityl chloride. The 3′protecting group is generally removed during solid-state oligomersynthesis as described in more detail below. The base pairing poiety maybe suitable protected for sold phase oligomer synthesis. Suitableprotecting groups include benzoyl for adenine and cytosine, phenylacetylfor guanine, and pivaloyloxymethyl for hypoxanthine (I). Thepivaloyloxymethyl group can be introduced onto the N1 position of thehypoxanthine heterocyclic base. Although an unprotected hypoxanthinesubunit, may be employed, yields in activation reactions are farsuperior when the base is protected. Other suitable protecting groupsinclude those disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.12/271,040, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Reaction of 3 with the activated phosphorous compound 4, results inmorpholino subunits having the desired linkage moiety (5). Compounds ofstructure 4 can be prepared using any number of methods known to thoseof skill in the art. For example, such compounds may be prepared byreaction of the corresponding amine and phosphorous oxychloride. In thisregard, the amine starting material can be prepared using any methodknown in the art, for example those methods described in the Examplesand in U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,762. Although the above scheme depictspreparation of linkages of type (B) (e.g., X is —NR⁸R⁹), linkages oftype (A) (e.g., X is dimethyl amine) can be prepared in an analogousmanner.

Compounds of structure 5 can be used in solid-phase automated oligomersynthesis for preparation of oligomers comprising the intersubunitlinkages. Such methods are well known in the art. Briefly, a compound ofstructure 5 may be modified at the 5′ end to contain a linker to a solidsupport. For example, compound 5 may be linked to a solid support by alinker comprising L¹ and/or R¹⁹. An exemplary method is demonstrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. In this manner, the oligo may comprise a 5′-terminalmodification after oligomer synthesis is complete and the oligomer iscleaved from the solid support. Once supported, the protecting group of5 (e.g., trityl) is removed and the free amine is reacted with anactivated phosphorous moiety of a second compound of structure 5. Thissequence is repeated until the desired length oligo is obtained. Theprotecting group in the terminal 5′ end may either be removed or left onif a 5′-modification is desired. The oligo can be removed from the solidsupport using any number of methods, or example treatment with a base tocleave the linkage to the solid support.

Peptide oligomer conjugates can be prepared by coupling the desiredpeptide (prepared according to standard peptide synthetic methods knownin the art) with an oligomer comprising a free NH (for example the 3′ NHof amorpholino oligomer) in the presence of an appropriate activatingreagent (e.g., HATU). Conjugates may be purified using a number oftechniques known in the art, for example SCX chromatography.

The preparation of modified morpholino subunits and peptide oligomerconjugates are described in more detail in the Examples. The peptideoligomer conjugates containing any number of modified linkages may beprepared using methods described herein, methods known in the art and/ordescribed by reference herein. Also described in the examples are globalmodifications of PMO+ morpholino oligomers prepared as previouslydescribed (see e.g., PCT publication WO2008036127).

F. Antisense Activity of the Oligomers

The present disclosure also provides a method of inhibiting productionof a protein, the method comprising exposing a nucleic acid encoding theprotein to a peptide-oligomer conjugate as disclosed herein.Accordingly, in one embodiment a nucleic acid encoding such a protein isexposed to a conjugate, as disclosed herein, where the base pairingmoieties Pi form a sequence effective to hybridize to a portion of thenucleic acid at a location effective to inhibit production of theprotein. The oligomer may target, for example, an ATG start codon regionof an mRNA, a splice site of a pre-mRNA, or a viral target sequence asdescribed below.

In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method of enhancingantisense activity of a peptide oligomer conjugate comprising anoligonucleotide analogue having a sequence of morpholino subunits,joined by intersubunit linkages, supporting base-pairing moieties, themethod comprises conjugating a carrier peptide as described herein tothe oligonucleotide.

In some embodiments, enhancement of antisense activity may be evidencedby:

(i) a decrease in expression of an encoded protein, relative to thatprovided by a corresponding unmodified oligomer, when binding of theantisense oligomer to its target sequence is effective to block atranslation start codon for the encoded protein, or

(ii) an increase in expression of an encoded protein, relative to thatprovided by a corresponding unmodified oligomer, when binding of theantisense oligomer to its target sequence is effective to block anaberrant splice site in a pre-mRNA which encodes said protein whencorrectly spliced. Assays suitable for measurement of these effects aredescribed further below. In one embodiment, modification provides thisactivity in a cell-free translation assay, a splice correctiontranslation assay in cell culture, or a splice correction gain offunction animal model system as described herein. In one embodiment,activity is enhanced by a factor of at least two, at least five or atleast ten.

Described below are various exemplary applications of the conjugates ofthe invention including antiviral applications, treatment ofneuromuscular diseases, bacterial infections, inflammation andpolycystic kidney disease. This description is not meant to limit theinvention in any way but serves to exemplify the range of human andanimal disease conditions that can be addressed using the conjugatesdescribed herein.

G. Exemplary Therapeutic Uses of the Conjugates

The oligomers conjugated to the carrier peptide comprise good efficacyand low toxicity, thus resulting in a better therapeutic window thanobtained with other oligomers or peptide-oligomer conjugates. Thefollowing description provides exemplary, but not limiting, example oftherapeutic uses of the conjugates.

1. Targeting Stem-Loop Secondary Structure of ssRNA Viruses

One class of an exemplary antisense antiviral compound is a morpholinooligomer as described herein having a sequence of 12-40 subunits and atargeting sequence that is complementary to a region associated withstem-loop secondary structure within the 5′-terminal end 40 bases of thepositive-sense RNA strand of the targeted virus. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn.No. WO/2006/033933 or U.S. Appn. Pubn. Nos. 20060269911 and 20050096291,which are incorporated herein by reference.)

The method comprises first identifying as a viral target sequence, aregion within the 5′-terminal 40 bases of the positive strand of theinfecting virus whose sequence is capable of forming internal stem-loopsecondary structure. There is then constructed, by stepwise solid-phasesynthesis, a morpholino oligomer having a targeting sequence of at least12 subunits that is complementary to the virus-genome region capable offorming internal duplex structure, where the oligomer is able to formwith the viral target sequence, a heteroduplex structure composed of thepositive sense strand of the virus and the oligonucleotide compound, andcharacterized by a Tm of dissociation of at least 45° C. and disruptionof such stem-loop structure. The oligomer is conjugated to a carrierpeptide described herein.

The target sequence may be identified by analyzing the 5′-terminalsequences, e.g., the 5′-terminal 40 bases, by a computer program capableof performing secondary structure predictions based on a search for theminimal free energy state of the input RNA sequence.

In a related aspect, the conjugates can be used in methods of inhibitingin a mammalian host cell, replication of an infecting RNA virus having asingle-stranded, positive-sense genome and selected from one of theFlaviviridae, Picornoviridae, Caliciviridae, Togaviridae, Arteriviridae,Coronaviridae, Astroviridae or Hepeviridae families. The method includesadministering to the infected host cells, a virus-inhibitory amount ofconjugate as described herein, having a targeting sequence of at least12 subunits that is complementary to a region within the 5′-terminal 40bases of the positive-strand viral genome that is capable of forminginternal stem-loop secondary structure. The conjugate is effective, whenadministered to the host cells, to form a heteroduplex structure (i)composed of the positive sense strand of the virus and theoligonucleotide compound, and (ii) characterized by a Tm of dissociationof at least 45° C. and disruption of such stem-loop secondary structure.The conjugate may be administered to a mammalian subject infected withthe virus, or at risk of infection with the virus.

Exemplary targeting sequences that target the terminal stem loopstructures of the dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses are listedbelow as SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, respectively.

Additional exemplary targeting sequences that target the terminal stemloop structures of ssRNA viruses can also be found in U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/801,885 and PCT publication WO/2008/036127 which areincorporated herein by reference.

2. Targeting the First Open Reading Frame of ssRNA Viruses

A second class of exemplary conjugates is for use in inhibition ofgrowth of viruses of the picornavirus, calicivirus, togavirus,coronavirus, and flavivirus families having a single-stranded, positivesense genome of less than 12 kb and a first open reading frame thatencodes a polyprotein containing multiple functional proteins. Inparticular embodiments, the virus is an RNA virus from the coronavirusfamily or a West Nile, Yellow Fever or Dengue virus from the flavivirusfamily. The inhibiting conjugates comprise antisense oligomers describedherein, having a targeting base sequence that is substantiallycomplementary to a viral target sequence which spans the AUG start siteof the first open reading frame of the viral genome. In one embodimentof the method, the conjugate is administered to a mammalian subjectinfected with the virus. See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2005/007805 and USAppn. Pubn. No. 2003224353, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred target sequence is a region that spans the AUG start siteof the first open reading frame (ORF1) of the viral genome. The firstORF generally encodes a polyprotein containing non-structural proteinssuch as polymerases, helicases and proteases. By “spans the AUG startsite” is meant that the target sequence includes at least three bases onone side of the AUG start site and at least two bases on the other (atotal of at least 8 bases). Preferably, it includes at least four baseson each side of the start site (a total of at least 11 bases).

More generally, preferred target sites include targets that areconserved between a variety of viral isolates. Other favored sitesinclude the IRES (internal ribosome entry site), transactivation proteinbinding sites, and sites of initiation of replication. Complex and largeviral genomes, which may provide multiple redundant genes, may beefficiently targeted by targeting host cellular genes coding for viralentry and host response to viral presence.

A variety of viral-genome sequences are available from well knownsources, such as the NCBI Genbank databases. The AUG start site of ORF1may also be identified in the gene database or reference relied upon, orit may be found by scanning the sequence for an AUG codon in the regionof the expected ORF1 start site.

The general genomic organization of each of the four virus families isgiven below, followed by exemplary target sequences obtained forselected members (genera, species or strains) within each family.

3. Targeting Influenza Virus

A third class of exemplary conjugates are used in inhibition of growthof viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family and in the treatment of aviral infection. In one embodiment, the host cell is contacted with aconjugate as described herein, for example a conjugate comprising a basesequence effective to hybridize to a target region selected from thefollowing: 1) the 5′ or 3′ terminal 25 bases of the negative sense viralRNA segments; 2) the terminal 25 bases of the 5′ or 3′ terminus of thepositive sense cRNA; 3) 45 bases surrounding the AUG start codons ofinfluenza viral mRNAs and; 4) 50 bases surrounding the splice donor oracceptor sites of influenza mRNAs subject to alternative splicing. (See,e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2006/047683; U.S. Appn. Pubn. No. 20070004661;and PCT Appn. Num. 2010/056613 and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/945,081,which are incorporated herein by reference.)

Exemplary conjugates in this regard include conjugates comprisingoligomers comprising SEQ ID NO:3.

TABLE 4  Influenza targeting sequences that incorporatemodified intersubunit linkages or terminal groups NG-10-0038 PMOhexCGG T^(h) TA GAA GAC ^(h) TCA TC^(h) T TT NG-10-0039 PMOhex CGG T^(h)TA GAA GAC ^(h) TCA ^(h) TCT ^(h) TT NG-10-0096 PMOapn CGG T^(a)TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA TC^(a) T TT NG-10-0097 PMOapn CGG ^(a) T ^(a)TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA ^(a) TC^(a) T TT NG-10-0099 PMOpyr CGG ^(p) T ^(p)TA GAA GAC ^(p) TCA ^(p) TC^(p) T TT NG-10-0107 PMOthiol CGG T^(SH)TA GAA GAC ^(SH) TCA TC^(SH) T TT NG-10-0108 PMOsucc CGG T^(s)TA GAA GAC ^(s) TCA TC^(s) T TT NG-10-0111 PMOguan CGG T^(g)TA GAA GAC ^(g) TCA TC^(g) T TT NG-10-0141 PMOpyr CGG T^(p)TA GAA GAC ^(p) TCA TC^(p) T TT NG-10-0142 PMOpyr CGG T^(p)TA GAA GAC ^(p) TCA ^(p) TC^(p) T TT NG-10-0158 PMOglutaric CGG T^(glu)TA GAA GAC ^(glu) TCA TC^(glu) T TT NG-10-0159 PMOcyclo-glutCGG T^(cpglu) TA GAA GAC ^(cpglu) TCA TC^(cpglu) T TT NG-10-0160PMOcholic acid CGG T^(ca) TA GAA GAC ^(ca) TCA TC^(ca) T TT NG-10-0161PMOdeoxyCA CGG T^(dca) TA GAA GAC ^(dca) TCA TC^(dca) T TT NG-10-0180PMOapn TT^(a) T CGA CA^(a) T CGG T^(a) TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA T NG-10-0174PMOm CGG T^(m) TA GAA GAC ^(m) TCA TC^(m) T TT NG-10-0222 PMO MeTCGG T^(Me) TA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT NG-10-0223 PMO FarnT CGG T^(Farn)TA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT NG-10-0538 PMOapn-trityl CGG T^(a)TTA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA TC^(a) T TT NG-10-0539 PMOapn-trityl CGG T^(p)TA GAA GAC ^(p) TCA TC^(p) T TT NG-10-0015 PMOCGG TTA GAA GAC TCA TCT TT NG-11-0170 PMOplusCGG +TTA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT NG-11-0145 PMOplus-benzhydrylCGG T+TA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT** NG-11-0148 PMOisopropylPipCGG TiprpipTA GAA GAC iprpipTCA TCiprpipT TT NG-11-0173 PMOpyrCGG pTTA GAA GAC pTCA TCpT TT NG-11-0291 Trimethyl GlyCGG T*+TA GAA GAC *+TCA TC*+T TT **3′-benzhydryl; *+ linkages aretrimethyl glycine acylated at the PMOplus linkages; PMOm represents Tbases with a methyl group on the 3-nitrogen position.

The conjugate s are particularly useful in the treatment of influenzavirus infection in a mammal. The o conjugate may be administered to amammalian subject infected with the influenza virus, or at risk ofinfection with the influenza virus.

4. Targeting Viruses of the Picornaviridae Family

A fourth class of exemplary conjugates are used in inhibition of growthof viruses of the Picornaviridae family and in the treatment of a viralinfection. The conjugates are particularly useful in the treatment ofEnterovirus and/or Rhinovirus infection in a mammal. In this embodiment,the conjugates comprise morpholino oligomers having a sequence of 12-40subunits, including at least 12 subunits having a targeting sequencethat is complementary to a region associated with viral RNA sequenceswithin one of two 32 conserved nucleotide regions of the viral 5′untranslated region. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. Nos. WO/2007/030576 andWO/2007/030691 or copending and co-owned U.S. application Ser. Nos.11/518,058 and 11/517,757, which are incorporated herein by reference.)An exemplary targeting sequence is listed below as SEQ NO: 6.

5. Targeting Viruses of the Flavivirus Family

A fifth class of exemplary conjugates are used in inhibition ofreplication of a flavivirus in animal cells. An exemplary conjugate ofthis class comprises a morpholino oligomer of between 8-40 nucleotidebases in length and having a sequence of at least 8 bases complementaryto a region of the virus' positive strand RNA genome that includes atleast a portion of the 5′-cyclization sequence (5′-CS) or 3′-CSsequences of the positive strand flaviviral RNA. A highly preferredtarget is the 3′-CS and an exemplary targeting sequence for dengue virusis listed below as SEQ ID NO: 7. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No.(WO/2005/030800) or copending and co-owned U.S. application Ser. No.10/913,996, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

6. Targeting Viruses of the Nidovirus Family

A sixth class of exemplary conjugates are used in inhibition ofreplication of a nidovirus in virus-infected animal cells. An exemplaryconjugate of this class comprises a morpholino oligomer containingbetween 8-25 nucleotide bases, and having a sequence capable ofdisrupting base pairing between the transcriptional regulatory sequences(TRS) in the 5′ leader region of the positive-strand viral genome andnegative-strand 3′ subgenomic region (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No.WO/2005/065268 or U.S. Appn. Pubn. No. 20070037763, which areincorporated herein by reference.)

7. Targeting of Filoviruses

In another embodiment, one or more conjugates as described herein can beused in a method of in inhibiting replication within a host cell of anEbola virus or Marburg virus, by contacting the cell with a conjugate asdescribed herein, for example a conjugate having a targeting basesequence that is complementary to a target sequence composed of at least12 contiguous bases within an AUG start-site region of a positive-strandmRNA, as described further below.

The filovirus viral genome is approximately 19,000 bases ofsingle-stranded RNA that is unsegmented and in the antisenseorientation. The genome encodes 7 proteins from monocistronic mRNAscomplementary to the vRNA.

Target sequences are positive-strand (sense) RNA sequences that span orare just downstream (within 25 bases) or upstream (within 100 bases) ofthe AUG start codon of selected Ebola virus proteins or the 3′ terminal30 bases of the minus-strand viral RNA. Preferred protein targets arethe viral polymerase subunits VP35 and VP24, although L, nucleoproteinsNP and VP30, are also contemplated. Among these early proteins arefavored, e.g., VP35 is favored over the later expressed L polymerase.

In another embodiment, one or more conjugates as described herein can beused in a method of in inhibiting replication within a host cell of anEbola virus or Marburg virus, by contacting the cell with a conjugate asdescribed herein having a targeting base sequence that is complementaryto a target sequence composed of at least 12 contiguous bases within anAUG start-site region of a positive-strand mRNA of the Filovirus mRNAsequences. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2006/050414 or U.S. Pat. Nos.7,524,829 and 7,507,196, and continuation applications with U.S.application Ser. Nos. 12/402,455; 12/402,461; 12/402,464; and 12/853,180which are incorporated herein by reference.)

8. Targeting of Arenaviruses

In another embodiment, a conjugate as described herein can be used in amethod for inhibiting viral infection in mammalian cells by a species inthe Arenaviridae family. In one aspect, the conjugates can be used intreating a mammalian subject infected with the virus. (See, e.g., PCTPubn. No. WO/2007/103529 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,615, which areincorporated herein by reference.)

Table 5 is an exemplary list of targeted viruses targeted by conjugatesof the invention as organized by their Old World or New World Arenavirusclassification.

TABLE 5 Targeted Arenaviruses Family Genus Virus Arenaviridae ArenavirusOld World Arenaviruses Lassa virus (LASV) Lymphocytic choriomeningitisvirus (LCMV) Mopeia virus (MOPV) New World Arenaviruses Guanarito virus(GTOV) Junín virus (JUNV) Machupo virus (MACV) Pichinide virus (PICV)Pirital virus (PIRV) Sabiá virus (SABV) Tacaribe virus (TCRV) WhitewaterArroyo virus (WWAV)

The genome of Arenaviruses consists of two single-stranded RNA segmentsdesignated S (small) and L (large). In virions, the molar ratio of S- toL-segment RNAs is roughly 2:1. The complete S-segment RNA sequence hasbeen determined for several arenaviruses and ranges from 3,366 to 3,535nucleotides. The complete L-segment RNA sequence has also beendetermined for several arenaviruses and ranges from 7,102 to 7,279nucleotides. The 3′ terminal sequences of the S and L RNA segments areidentical at 17 of the last 19 nucleotides. These terminal sequences areconserved among all known arenaviruses. The 5′-terminal 19 or 20nucleotides at the beginning of each genomic RNA are imperfectlycomplementary with each corresponding 3′ end. Because of thiscomplementarity, the 3′ and 5′ termini are thought to base-pair and formpanhandle structures.

Replication of the infecting virion or viral RNA (vRNA) to form anantigenomic, viral-complementary RNA (vcRNA) strand occurs in theinfected cell. Both the vRNA and vcRNA encode complementary mRNAs;accordingly, Arenaviruses are classified as ambisense RNA viruses,rather than negative- or positive-sense RNA viruses. The ambisenseorientation of viral genes are on both the L- and S-segments. The NP andpolymerase genes reside at the 3′ end of the S and L vRNA segments,respectively, and are encoded in the conventional negative sense (i.e.,they are expressed through transcription of vRNA or genome-complementarymRNAs). The genes located at the 5′ end of the S and L vRNA segments,GPC and Z, respectively, are encoded in mRNA sense but there is noevidence that they are translated directly from genomic vRNA. Thesegenes are expressed instead through transcription of genomic-sense mRNAsfrom antigenomes (i.e., the vcRNA), full-length complementary copies ofgenomic vRNAs that function as replicative intermediates.

An exemplary targeting sequence for the arenavirus family of viruses islisted below as SEQ ID NO: 8.

9. Targeting of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the single most importantrespiratory pathogen in young children. RSV-caused lower respiratoryconditions, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, often requirehospitalization in children less than one-year-old. Children withcardiopulmonary diseases and those born prematurely are especially proneto experience severe disorders from this infection. RSV infection isalso an important illness in elderly and high-risk adults, and it is thesecond-most commonly identified cause of viral pneumonia in olderpersons (Falsey, Hennessey et al. 2005). The World Health Organizationestimates that RSV is responsible for 64 million clinical infections and160 thousand deaths annually worldwide. No vaccines are currentlyavailable for the prevention of RSV infection. Although many majoradvances in our understanding of RSV biology, epidemiology,pathophysiology, and host-immune-response have occurred over the pastfew decades, there continues to be considerable controversy regardingthe optimum management of infants and children with RSV infection.Ribavirin is the only licensed antiviral drug for treating RSVinfection, but its use is limited to high-risk or severely-ill infants.The utility of Ribavirin has been limited by its cost, variableefficacy, and tendency to generate resistant viruses (Marquardt 1995;Prince 2001). The current need for additional effective anti-RSV agentsis well-acknowledged.

It is known that peptide conjugated PMO (PPMO) can be effective ininhibiting RSV both in tissue culture and in an in vivo animal modelsystem (Lai, Stein et al. 2008). Two antisense PPMOs, designed to targetthe sequence that includes the 5′-terminal region and translationstart-site region of RSV L mRNA, were tested for anti-RSV activity incultures of two human airway cell lines. One of them, (RSV-AUG-2; SEQ IDNO 10), reduced viral titers by >2.0 log₁₀. Intranasal (i.n.) treatmentof BALB/c mice with RSV-AUG-2 PPMO before the RSV inoculation produced areduction in viral titer of 1.2 log₁₀ in lung tissue at day 5postinfection (p.i.), and attenuated pulmonary inflammation at day 7postinfection. These data showed that RSV-AUG-2 provided potent anti-RSVactivity worthy of further investigation as a candidate for potentialtherapeutic application (Lai, Stein et al. 2008). Despite the successwith RSV-AUG-2 PPMO as described above, it is desirable to useconjugates as disclosed herein to address toxicity associated withprevious peptide conjugates. Therefore, in another embodiment of thepresent invention, one or more conjugates as described herein can beused in a method of inhibiting replication within a host cell of RSV, bycontacting the cell with a conjugate as described herein, for example aconjugate having a targeting base sequence that is complementary to atarget sequence composed of at least 12 contiguous bases within an AUGstart-site region of an mRNA from RSV, as described further below.

The L gene of RSV codes for a critical component of the viral RNAdependent RNA polymerase complex. Antisense PPMO designed against thesequence spanning the AUG translation start-site codon of the RSV L genemRNA in the form of RSV-AUG-2 PPMO is complementary to sequence from the‘gene-start’ sequence (GS) present at the 5′ terminus of the L mRNA to13 nt into the coding sequence. A preferred L gene targeting sequence istherefore complementary to any 12 contiguous bases from the 5′ end ofthe L gene mRNA extending 40 bases in the 3′ direction or 22 bases intothe L gene coding sequence as shown below in Table 6 as SEQ ID NO: 9.Exemplary RSV L gene targeting sequences are listed below in Table 6 asSEQ ID NOs: 10-14. Any of the intersubunit modifications of theinvention described herein can be incorporated in the oligomers toprovide increased antisense activity, improved intracellular deliveryand/or tissue specificity for improved therapeutic activity. Exemplaryoligomers sequences containing intersubunit linkages of the inventionare listed below in Table 6.

TABLE 6  RSV target and targeting sequences SEQ Name Sequence (5′ to 3′)ID NO L target GGGACAAAATGGATCCCATTAT 9 TAATGGAAATTCTGCTAA RSV-AUG-2TAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 10 RSV-AUG3 AATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 11 RSV-AUG4CATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 12 RSV-AUG5 GAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTG13 RSV-AUG6 CAGAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATT 14 RSV-AUG3apn*AATAA^(apn)TGGGA^(apn)TCCA^(apn)TT^(apn)TTG^(apn) 11 TCCC RSV-AUG3guanAATAA^(guan)TGGGA^(guan)TCCA^(guan)TT^(guan) 11 TTG^(guan)TCCC

10. Neuromuscular Diseases

In another embodiment, a therapeutic conjugate is provided for use intreating a disease condition associated with a neuromuscular disease ina mammalian subject. Antisense oligomers (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 16) have beenshown to have activity in the MDX mouse model for Duchene MuscularDystrophy (DMD). Exemplary oligomer sequences that incorporate thelinkages used in some embodiments are listed below in Table 7. In someembodiments, the conjugates comprise an oligomer selected from:

(a) an antisense oligomer targeted against human myostatin, having abase sequence complementary to at least 12 contiguous bases in a targetregion of the human myostatin mRNA identified by SEQ ID NO: 18, fortreating a muscle wasting condition, as described previously (See, e.g.,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/493,140, which is incorporatedherein by reference; and PCT publication WO2006/086667). Exemplarymurine targeting sequences are listed as SEQ ID NOs: 19-20; and

(b) an antisense oligomer capable of producing exon skipping in the DMDprotein (dystrophin), such as a PMO having a sequence selected from SEQID NOs: 22 to 35, to restore partial activity of the dystrophin protein,for treating DMD, as described previously (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. Nos.WO/2010/048586 and WO/2006/000057 or U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S.Ser. No. 09/061,960 all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Several other neuromuscular diseases can be treated using the modifiedlinkages and terminal groups of the present invention. Exemplarycompounds for treating spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) and myotonicdystrophy (DM) are discussed below.

SMA is an autosomal recessive disease caused by chronic loss ofalpha-motor neurons in the spinal cord and can affect both children andadults. Reduced expression of survival motor neuron (SMN) is responsiblefor the disease (Hua, Sahashi et al. 2010). Mutations that cause SMA arelocated in the SMN1 gene but a paralogous gene, SMN2, can allowviability by compensating for loss of SMN1 if expressed from analternative splice form lacking exon 7 (delta7 SMN2). Antisensecompounds targeted to inton 6, exon 7 and intron 7 have all been shownto induce exon 7 inclusion to varying degrees. Antisense compoundstargeted to intron 7 are preferred (see e.g., PCT Publication Nos.WO/2010/148249, WO/2010/120820, WO/2007/002390 and U.S. Pat. No.7,838,657). Exemplary antisense sequences that target the SMN2 pre-mRNAand induce improved exon 7 inclusion are listed below as SEQ ID NOs:36-38. It is contemplated that selected modifications of these oligomersequences using the modified linkages and terminal groups describedherein would have improved properties compared to those known in theart. Furthermore, it is contemplated that any oligomer targeted tointron 7 of the SMN2 gene and incorporating the features of the presentinvention has the potential to induce exon 7 inclusion and provide atherapeutic benefit to SMA patients. Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) andtype 2 (DM2) are dominantly inherited disorders caused by expression ofa toxic RNA leading to neuromuscular degeneration. DM1 and DM2 areassociated with long polyCUG and polyCCUG repeats in the 3′-UTR andintron 1 regions of the transcript dystrophia myotonica protein kinase(DMPK) and zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9), respectively (see e.g.,WO2008/036406). While normal individuals have as many as 30 CTG repeats,DM1 patients carry a larger number of repeats ranging from 50 tothousands. The severity of the disease and the age of onset correlateswith the number of repeats. Patients with adult onsets show mildersymptoms and have less than 100 repeats, juvenile onset DM1 patientscarry as many as 500 repeats and congenital cases usually have around athousand CTG repeats. The expanded transcripts containing CUG repeatsform a secondary structure, accumulate in the nucleus in the form ofnuclear foci and sequester RNA-binding proteins (RNA-BP). Several RNA-BPhave been implicated in the disease, including muscleblind-like (MBNL)proteins and CUG-binding protein (CUGBP). MBNL proteins are homologousto Drosophila muscleblind (Mbl) proteins necessary for photoreceptor andmuscle differentiation. MBNL and CUGBP have been identified asantagonistic splicing regulators of transcripts affected in DM1 such ascardiac troponin T (cTNT), insulin receptor (IR) and muscle-specificchloride channel (ClC-1).

It is known in the art that antisense oligonucleotides targeted to theexpanded repeats of the DMPK gene can displace RNA-BP sequestration andreverse myotonia symptoms in an animal model of DM1 (WO2008/036406). Itis contemplated that oligomers incorporating features of the presentinvention would provide improved activity and therapeutic potential forDM1 and DM2 patients. Exemplary sequences targeted to the polyCUG andpolyCCUG repeats described above are listed below as SEQ ID NOs: 39-55and further described in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/101,942 which isincorporated herein in its entirety.

Additional embodiments of the present invention for treatingneuralmuscular disorders are anticipated and include oligomers designedto treat other DNA repeat instability genetic disorders. These diseasesinclude Huntington's disease, spino-cerebellar ataxia, X-linked spinaland bulbar muscular atrophy and spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10)as described in WO2008/018795.

TABLE 7 M23D sequences (SEQ ID NO: 15) that incorporate modified intersubunit linkagesand/or 3′ and/or 5′ terminal groups PMO-X NG Modification 5′ Sequence 3′NG-10-0383 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG triphenylacetyl AAA TNG-10-0325 triphenylphos OH GGC CAA ACC FCG GCF TAC CFG triphenylphosAAA T NG-10-0272 PMO-farnesyl OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG farnesylAAA T NG-10-0102 PMO OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG trityl AAA TNG-10-0330 trimethoxybenzoyl  EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTGtrimethoxybenzoyl AAA T NG-10-0056 PMOplus 5′-pol EG3 GGC C⁺ A ⁺ A ⁺ACC TCG GCT TAC H CTG AAA T NG-07-0064 PMO-3′-trityl H-PipGGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG trityl AAA T NG-10-0382 PMO EG3GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG triphenylpropionyl AAA T NG-10-0278 PMOpyrEG3 GGC CAA ACC pTCG GCpT pTAC H CpTG AAA pT NG-10-0210 PMOapn EG3GGC C^(a) A ^(a) A ^(a) ACC TCG GCT TAC H CTG AAA T NG-10-0098 PMOpyrEG3 GGC CAA ACC PTCG GCT TAC H C^(a) TG AAA T NG-10-0070 PMOapn EG3GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T TAC H C^(a) TG AAA ^(a) T NG-10-0095PMOapn EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T ^(a) TAC C^(a) TG  H AAA ^(a) TNG-10-0317 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG farnesyl AAA T NG-10-0477PMO triMe Gly EG3 GGC CAA ACC FCG GCF TAC CFG trimethyl Glycine AAA FNG-10-0133 PMOapn OH GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T ^(a) TAC H C^(a)TG AAA ^(a) T NG-10-0387 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG2-OH, diphenylacet AAA T NG-10-0104 PMOguan EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(g)TCG GC^(g) T TAC C^(g) TG  Δ^(g) AAA T NG-10-0420 PMOplus methyl EG3GGC CAA ACC ^(m+) TCG GC^(m+) T TAC Trityl C^(m+) TG AAA ^(m+) TNG-10-0065 PMOtri EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(t) TCG GC^(t) T TAC C^(t) TG  HAAA T NG-10-0607 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG9-fluorene-carboxyl AAA T NG-10-0060 PMOcp EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(cp)TCG G^(cp) T TAC H C^(cp) T G AAA T NG-10-0162 PMO-COCH₂SH EG3GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG COCH₂SH AAA T NG-10-0328 diphenylacetyl EG3GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG diphenylacetyl AAA T NG-10-0134 PMOapnPMOtriOH GGC C^(a) AA ^(a) ACC ^(t) TCG GCT ^(t) TAC H C^(t) TG AAA ^(t) TNG-10-0386 PMO DPA GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG 5′-diphenylac, AAA T3′-trity NG-07-0064 PMO-3′-trityl H-Pip GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTGtrityl AAA T NG-10-0059 PMOcp EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(cp) TCG GC^(cp) T ^(cp)TAC H C^(cp) T G AAA ^(cp) T NG-10-0135 PMOtri OH GGC CAA ACC ^(t)TCG GC^(t) T ^(t) TAC H C^(t) TG AAA ^(t) T NG-10-0168 PMOapn PMOcys OHGGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GCT ^(a) TAC H c^(a) TG AAA ^(SHc) T NG-10-0113PMOapnPMOtri OH GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC⁺ A ^(t) TAC H C^(a) TG AAA ^(a)T NG-10-0385 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG diphenylphosphorylAAA T NG-10-0279 PMO OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG geranyl AAA TNG-10-0055 PMOplus disp EG3 GGC CAA ⁺ ACC ⁺ TCG GC⁺ T TAC H C⁺ TG AAA TNG-10-0105 PMOsucc EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(s) TCG GC^(s) T TAC C^(s) TG  Δ^(s)AAA T NG-10-0805 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(Etpip) TCG GC^(Etpip) T TAC HC^(Etpip) TG AAA ^(Etpip) T NG-10-0811 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(pyrQMe)TCG GC^(pyrQMe) T H TAC C^(pyrQMe) TG AAA ^(pyrQMe) T NG-10-0057PMOplus 3′-pol EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG H ⁺ A ⁺ A ⁺ A TNG-10-0625 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG 5-carboxyfluoresceinAAA T NG-10-0804 dimer EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG dimerized AAA TNG-10-0066 PMOtri EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(t) TCG GC^(t) T TAC C^(t) TG  HAAA ^(t) T NG-10-0280 PMO disulfide EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTGCOCH₂ CH₂SSPy AAA T NG-10-0212 PMOapn EG3 GGC CaAaA aACC aTCG GCaT HaTaAC CaTG aAaAaA aT NG-10-0156 3′-MeOtrityl EG3GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG MeO-Tr AAA T NG-10-0062 PMOhex EG3GGC CAA ACC ^(h) TCG GC^(h) T TAC C^(h) TG  H AAA ^(h) T NG-11-0043PMO-X EG3  GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG guanidinyl AAA T NG-10-0206PM0plus EG3 GGC C+A+A +ACC +TCG GC+T H +T+AC C+TG +A+A+A +T NG-10-0383PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG triphenylacetyl AAA T NG-10-0325triphenylphos OH GGC CAA ACC FCG GCF TAC CFG triphenylphos AAA TNG-10-0272 PMO-farnesyl OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG farnesyl AAA T*Dimerized indicates the oligomer is dimerized by a linkage linking the3′ ends of the two monomers. For example, the linkage may be—COCH₂CH₂—S—CH(CONH₂)CH₂—CO—NHCH₂CH₂CO— or any other suitable linkage.EG3 refers to a triethylene glycol tail (see e.g., conjugates inexamples 30 and 31).

11. Antibacterial Applications

The invention includes, in another embodiment, a conjugate comprising anantibacterial antisense oilgomer for use in treating a bacterialinfection in a mammalian host. In some embodiments, the oligomercomprises between 10-20 bases and a targeting sequence of at least 10contiguous bases complementary to a target region of the infectingbacteria's mRNA for acyl carrier protein (acpP), gyrase A subunit(gyrA), ftsZ, ribosomal protein S10 (rpsJ), leuD, mgtC, pirG, pcaA, andcma1 genes, where the target region contains the translational startcodon of the bacterial mRNA, or a sequence that is within 20 bases, inan upstream (i.e., 5′) or downstream (i.e., 3′) direction, of thetranslational start codon, and where the oligomer binds to the mRNA toform a heteroduplex thereby to inhibit replication of the bacteria.

12. Modulating Nuclear Hormone Receptors

In another embodiment the present invention relates to compositions andmethods for modulating expression of nuclear hormone receptors (NHR)from the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily (NHRSF), mainly bycontrolling or altering the splicing of pre-mRNA that codes for thereceptors. Examples of particular NHRs include glucocorticoid receptor(GR), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR). In certainembodiments, the conjugates described herein lead to increasedexpression of ligand-independent or other selected forms of thereceptors, and decreased expression of their inactive forms.

Embodiments of the present invention include conjugates comprisingoligomers, for example oligomers that are complementary to selectedexonic or intronic sequences of an NHR, including the “ligand-bindingexons” and/or adjacent introns of a NHRSF pre-mRNA, among otherNHR-domains described herein. The term “ligand-binding exons” refers toexon(s) that are present in the wild-type mRNA but are removed from theprimary transcript (the “pre-mRNA”) to make a ligand-independent form ofthe mRNA. In certain embodiments, complementarity can be based onsequences in the sequence of pre-mRNA that spans a splice site, whichincludes, but is not limited to, complementarity based on sequences thatspan an exon-intron junction. In other embodiments, complementarity canbe based solely on the sequence of the intron. In other embodiments,complementarity can be based solely on the sequence of the exon. (See,e.g., U.S. application Ser. No. 13/046,356, which is incorporated hereinby reference.)

NHR modulators may be useful in treating NHR-associated diseases,including diseases associated with the expression products of geneswhose transcription is stimulated or repressed by NHRs. For instance,modulators of NHRs that inhibit AP-1 and/or NF-κB can be useful in thetreatment of inflammatory and immune diseases and disorders such asosteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma,inflammatory bowel disease, transplant rejection, and graft vs. hostdisease, among others described herein and known in the art. Compoundsthat antagonize transactivation can be useful in treating metabolicdiseases associated with increased levels of glucocorticoid, such asdiabetes, osteoporosis and glaucoma, among others. Also, compounds thatagonize transactivation can be useful in treating metabolic diseasesassociated with a deficiency in glucocorticoid, such as Addison'sdisease and others.

Embodiments of the present invention include methods of modulatingnuclear NHR activity or expression in a cell, comprising contacting thecell with a conjugate comprising the carrier protein and an antisenseoligomer composed of morpholino subunits linked by phosphorus-containingintersubunit linkages joining a morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to a5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, wherein the oligonucleotidecontains between 10-40 bases and a targeting sequence of at least 10contiguous bases complementary to a target sequence, wherein the targetsequence is a pre-mRNA transcript of the NHR, thereby modulatingactivity or expression of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the oligomeralters splicing of the pre-mRNA transcript and increases expression of avariant of the NHR. In some embodiments, the oligomer induces full orpartial exon-skipping of one or more exons of the pre-mRNA transcript.In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portionof a ligand-binding domain of the NHR, and the variant is a ligandindependent form of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the one or moreexons encode at least a portion of a transactivation domain of the NHR,and the variant has reduced transcriptional activation activity. Incertain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portion ofa DNA-binding domain of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the one or moreexons encode at least a portion of an N-terminal activation domain ofthe NHR. In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least aportion of a carboxy-terminal domain of the NHR. In specificembodiments, the variant binds to NF-KB, AP-1, or both, and reducestranscription of one or more of their pro-inflammatory target genes.

In certain embodiments, the oligomer agonizes a transactivationaltranscriptional activity of the NHR. In other embodiments, the oligomerantagonizes a transactivational transcriptional activity of the NHR. Incertain embodiments, the oligomer agonizes a transrepression activity ofthe NHR. In other embodiments, the oligomer antagonizes atransrepression activity of the NHR. In specific embodiments, theoligomer antagonizes a transactivational transcriptional activity of theNHR and agonizes a transrepression activity of the NHR. (See, e.g., U.S.Appn. No. 61/313,652, which is incorporated herein by reference.)

EXAMPLES

Unless otherwise noted, all chemicals were obtained fromSigma-Aldrich-Fluka. Benzoyl adenosine, benzoyl cytidine, andphenylacetyl guanosine were obtained from Carbosynth Limited, UK.

Synthesis of PMO, PMO+, PPMO and PMO containing further linkagemodifications as described herein was done using methods known in theart and described in pending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 12/271,036 and12/271,040 and PCT publication number WO/2009/064471, which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

PMO with a 3′ trityl modification are synthesized essentially asdescribed in PCT publication number WO/2009/064471 with the exceptionthat the detritylation step is omitted.

Example 1 Tert-Butyl4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroacetamido)piperidine-1-Carboxylate

To a suspension of tert-butyl 4-aminopiperidine-1-carboxylate (48.7 g,0.243 mol) and DIPEA (130 mL, 0.749 mol) in DCM (250 mL) was added ethyltrifluoroacetate (35.6 mL, 0.300 mol) dropwise while stirring. After 20hours, the solution was washed with citric acid solution (200 mL x 3,10% w/v aq) and sodium bicarbonate solution (200 mL x 3, conc aq), dried(MgSO₄), and filtered through silica (24 g). The silica was washed withDCM and the combined eluant was partially concentrated (100 mL), andused directly in the next step. APCI/MS calcd. for C₁₂H₁₉F₃N₂O₃, 296.1.found m/z=294.9 (M−1).

Example 2 2,2,2-Trifluoro-N-(Piperidin-4-yl)Acetamide Hydrochloride

To a stirred DCM solution of the title compound of Example 1 (100 mL)was added dropwise a solution of hydrogen chloride (250 mL, 1.0 mol) in1,4-dioxane (4 M). Stirring was continued for 6 hours, then thesuspension was filtered, and the solid washed with diethyl ether (500mL) to afford the title compound (54.2 g, 96% yield) as a white solid.APCI/MS calcd. for C₇H₁₁F₃N₂O, 196.1. found m/z=196.9 (M+1).

Example 3 (4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroacetamido)Piperidin-1-yl)PhosphonicDichloride

To a cooled (ice/water bath) suspension of the title compound of Example2 (54.2 g, 0.233 mol) in DCM (250 mL) was added dropwise phosphorusoxychloride (23.9 mL, 0.256 mol) and DIPEA (121.7 mL, 0.699 mol) andstirred. After 15 minutes, the bath was removed and with continuedstirring the mixture allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After 1hour, the mixture was partially concentrated (100 mL), the suspensionfiltered, and the solid washed with diethyl ether to afford the titlecompound (43.8 g, 60% yield) as a white solid. The elutant was partiallyconcentrated (100 mL), the resulting suspension filtered, and the solidwashed with diethyl ether to afford additional title compound (6.5 g, 9%yield). ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivativeC₁₇H₂₂ClF₃N₅O₄P, 483.1. found m/z=482.1 (M−1).

Example 4((2S,6S)-6-((R)-5-Methyl-2,6-Dioxo-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridin-3-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methyl(4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroacetamido)Piperidin-1-yl)Phosphonochloridate

To a stirred, cooled (ice/water bath) solution of the title compound ofExample 3 (29.2 g, 93.3 mmol) in DCM (100 mL) was added dropwise over 10minutes a DCM solution (100 mL) of Mo(Tr)T # (22.6 g, 46.7 mmol),2,6-Lutidine (21.7 mL, 187 mmol), and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (1.14 g,9.33 mmol). The bath was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After15 hours, the solution was washed with a citric acid solution (200 mL x3, 10% w/v aq), dried (MgSO₄), concentrated, and the crude oil wasloaded directly onto column. Chromatography [SiO₂ column (120 g),hexanes/EtOAc eluant (gradient 1:1 to 0:1), repeated x 3] fractions wereconcentrated to provide the title compound (27.2 g, 77% yield) as awhite solid. ESI/MS calcd. for the 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazinederivative C₄₆H₅₀F₃N₈O₈P, 930.3. found m/z=929.5 (M−1).

Example 5((2S,6R)-6-(6-Benzamido-9H-Purin-9-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methyl(4-(2,2,2-Trifluoroacetamido)piperidin-1-yl)Phosphonochloridate

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to thatdescribed in Example 4 to afford the title compound (15.4 g, 66% yield)as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazinederivative C₅₃H₅₃F₃N₁₁O₇P, 1043.4. found m/z=1042.5 (M−1).

Example 6 (R)-Methyl(1-Phenylethyl)Phosphoramidic Dichloride

To a cooled (ice/water bath) solution of phosphorus oxychloride (2.83mL, 30.3 mmol) in DCM (30 mL) was added sequentially, dropwise, and withstirring 2,6-lutidine (7.06 mL, 60.6 mmol) and a DCM solution of(R)-(+)-N,a-dimethylbenzylamine (3.73 g, 27.6 mmol). After 5 minutes,the bath was removed and reaction mixture allowed to warm to ambienttemperature. After 1 hour, the reaction solution was washed with acitric acid solution (50 mL x 3, 10% w/v aq), dried (MgSO₄), filteredthrough SiO₂ and concentrated to provide the title compound (3.80 g) asa white foam. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivativeC₁₉H₂₅N₄O₄P, 404.2. found m/z=403.1 (M−1).

Example 7 (S)-Methyl(1-Phenylethyl)Phosphoramidic Dichloride

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to thatdescribed in Example 6 to afford the title compound (3.95 g) as a whitefoam. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivativeC₁₉H₂₅N₄O₄P, 404.2. found m/z=403.1 (M−1).

Example 8 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)MethylMethyl((R)-1-Phenylethyl)Phosphoramidochloridate

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to thatdescribed in Example 4 to afford the title chlorophosphoroamidate (4.46g, 28% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for C₃₈H₄0ClN₄O₅P, 698.2.found m/z=697.3 (M−1).

Example 9((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)MethylMethyl((S)-1-Phenylethyl)Phosphoramidochloridate

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to thatdescribed in Example 4 to afford the title chlorophosphoroamidate (4.65g, 23% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for C₃₈H₄0ClN₄O₅P, 698.2.found m/z=697.3 (M−1).

Example 10 (4-(Pyrrolidin-1-yl)Piperidin-1-yl)Phosphonic DichlorideHydrochloride

To a cooled (ice/water bath) solution of phosphorus oxychloride (5.70mL, 55.6 mmol) in DCM (30 mL) was added 2,6-lutidine (19.4 mL, 167 mmol)and a DCM solution (30 mL) of 4-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-piperidine (8.58 g,55.6 mmol) and stirred for 1 hour. The suspension was filtered and solidwashed with excess diethyl ether to afford the title pyrrolidine (17.7g, 91% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₁₉H₃₀N₅O₄P, 423.2. foundm/z=422.2 (M−1).

Example 11 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methyl(4-(Pyrrolidin-1-yl)Piperidin-1-yl)Phosphonochloridate Hydrochloride

To a stirred, cooled (ice/water bath) solution of thedichlorophosphoramidate 8 (17.7 g, 50.6 mmol) in DCM (100 mL) was addeda DCM solution (100 mL) of Mo(Tr)T # (24.5 g, 50.6 mmol), 2,6-Lutidine(17.7 mL, 152 mmol), and 1-methylimidazole (0.401 mL, 5.06 mmol)dropwise over 10 minutes. The bath was allowed to warm to ambienttemperature as suspension was stirred. After 6 hours, the suspension waspoured onto diethyl ether (1 L), stirred 15 minutes, filtered and solidwashed with additional ether to afford a white solid (45.4 g). The crudeproduct was purified by chromatography [SiO₂ column (120 gram), DCM/MeOHeluant (gradient 1:0 to 6:4)], and the combined fractions were pouredonto diethyl ether (2.5 L), stirred 15 min, filtered, and the resultingsolid washed with additional ether to afford the title compound (23.1 g,60% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₄₈H₅₇N₈O₇P, 888.4. foundm/z=887.6 (M−1).

Example 12 3-(Tert-Butyldisulfanyl)-2-(Isobutoxycarbonylamino)PropanoicAcid

To S-tert-butylmercapto-L-cysteine (10 g, 47.8 mmol) in CH₃CN (40 mL)was added K₂CO₃ (16.5 g, 119.5 mmol) in H₂O (20 mL). After stirring for15 minutes, iso-butyl chloroformate (9.4 mL, 72 mmol) was injectedslowly. The reaction was allowed to run for 3 hours. The white solid wasfiltered through Celite; the filtrate was concentrated to remove CH₃CN.The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed with IN HCl(40 ml×3), brine (40×1), dried over Na₂SO₄. Desired product (2) wasobtained after chromatography (5% MeOH/DCM).

Example 13 Tert-Butyl4-(3-(Tert-Butyldisulfanyl)-2-(Isobutoxycarbonylamino)Propanamido)Piperidine-1-Carboxylate

To the acid (compound 2 from Example 12, 6.98 g, 22.6 mmol) in DMF (50ml was added HATU (8.58 g, 22.6 mmol). After 30 min, Hunig base (4.71ml, 27.1 mmol) and 1-Boc-4-amino piperidine (5.43 g, 27.1 mmol) wereadded to the mixture. The reaction was continued stirring at RT foranother 3 h. DMF was removed at high vacuum, the crude residue wasdissolved in EtAc (300 ml), washed with H₂O (50 ml×3). The final product(3) was obtained after ISCO purification (5% MeOH/DCM).

Example 14 Isobutyl3-(Tert-Butyldisulfanyl)-1-Oxo-1-(Piperidin-4-ylamino)Propan-2-ylcarbamate

To compound 3 prepared in Example 13 (7.085 g, 18.12 mmol) was added 30ml of 4M HCl/Dioxane. The reaction was completed after 2 h at RT. TheHCl salt (4) was used for the next step without further purification.

Example 15 Isobutyl3-(Tert-Butyldisulfanyl)-1-(1-(Dichlorophosphoryl)Piperidin-4-ylamino)-1-Oxopropan-2-ylcarbamate

To compound 4 prepared in Example 15 (7.746 g, 18.12 mmol) in DCM (200ml) at −78° C. was slowly injected POCl₃ (1.69 ml, 18.12 mmol) under Ar,followed by the addition of Et₃N (7.58 ml, 54.36 mmol). The reaction wasstirred at RT for 5 h, concentrated to remove excess base and solvent.The product (5) was given as white solid after ISCO purification (50%EtAc/Hexane).

Example 16 Isobutyl3-(Tert-Butyldisulfanyl)-1-(1-(Chloro(((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methoxy)Phosphoryl)Piperidin-4-ylamino)-1-Oxopropan-2-ylcarbamate

To1-((2R,6S)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)-5-methylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione(moT(Tr)) (5.576 g, 10.98 mmol) in DCM (100 ml) at 0° C., was addedlutidine (1.92 ml, 16.47 mmol) and DMAP (669 mg, 5.5 mmol), followed bythe addition of 4 (6.13 g, 12.08 mmol). The reaction was left stirringat RT for 18 h. The desired product (6) was obtained after ISCOpurification (50% EtAc/Hexane).

Example 17((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)MethylHexyl(Methyl)Phosphoramidochloridate

A DCM (80 ml) solution of N-hydroxylmethylamine (4.85 ml, 32 mmol) wascooled down to −78° C. under N2. A solution of phosphoryl chloride (2.98ml, 32 mmol) in DCM (10 ml), followed by a solution of Et₃N (4.46 ml, 32mmol) in DCM (10 ml), was added slowly. The stirring was continued whilethe reaction was allowed to warm to RT overnight. The desired product(1) was given as clear oil after ISCO purification (20% EtAc/Hexane).

To moT(Tr) (5.10 g, 10.54 mmol) in DCM (100 ml) at 0° C., was addedlutidine (3.68 ml, 31.6 mmol) and DMAP (642 mg, 5.27 mmol), followed bythe addition of 1 (4.89 g, 21.08 mmol). The reaction was left stirringat RT for 18 h. The desired product (2) was obtained after ISCOpurification (50% EtOAc/Hexane).

Example 18((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2F)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)MethylDodecyl(Methyl)Phosphoramidochloridate

The title compound was prepared according to the general proceduresdescribed in Examples 6 and 8.

Example 19 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(21)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methyl Morpholinophosphonochloridate

The title compound was prepared according to the general proceduresdescribed in Examples 6 and 8.

Example 20((2S,6R)-6-(5-METHYL-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methyl(S)-2-(Methoxymethyl)Pyrrolidin-1-ylphosphonochloridate

The title compound was prepared according to the general proceduresdescribed in Examples 6 and 8.

Example 21((2S,6R)-6-(5-Methyl-2,4-Dioxo-3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-Tritylmorpholin-2-yl)Methyl4-(3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzamido)Piperidin-1-ylphosphonochloridate

To 1-Boc-4-piperidine (1 g, 5 mmol) in DCM (20 ml) was added Hunig base(1.74 ml, 10 mmol), followed by the addition of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylchloride (1.38 g, 6 mmol). The reaction was run at RT for 3 h,concentrated to remove solvent and excess base. The residue wasdissolved in EtAc (100 ml), washed with 0.05N HCl (3×15 ml), sat. NaHCO₃(2×15 ml), dried over Na₂SO₄. Product (1) was obtained after ISCOpurification (5% MeOH/DCM).

To 7 was added 15 ml of 4N HCl/Dioxane, reaction was terminated after 4h. 8 was obtained as white solid.

A DCM (20 ml) solution of 8 (1.23 g, 4.18 mmol) was cooled down to −78°C. under N₂. A solution of phosphoryl chloride (0.39 ml, 4.18 mmol) inDCM (2 ml), followed by a solution of Et₃N (0.583 ml, 4.18 mmol) in DCM(2 ml), was added slowly. The stirring was continued while the reactionwas allowed to warm to RT overnight. The desired product (9) wasobtained after ISCO purification (50% EtAc/Hexane).

To moT(Tr) (1.933 g, 4.0 mmol) in DCM (20 ml) at 0° C., was addedlutidine (0.93 ml, 8 mmol) and DMAP (49 mg, 0.4 mmol), followed by theaddition of 9 (1.647 g, 4 mmol). The reaction was left stirring at RTfor 18 h. The desired product (10) was obtained after ISCO purification(50% EtAc/Hexane).

Example 22 Synthesis of Cyclophosphoramide Containing Subunit (^(CP)T)

The moT subunit (25 g) was suspended in DCM (175 ml) and NMI(N-methylimidazole, 5.94 g, 1.4 eq.) was added to obtain a clearsolution. Tosyl chloride was added to the reaction mixture, and thereaction progress was monitored by TLC until done (about 2 hours). Anaqueous workup was performed by washing with 0.5 M citric acid buffer(pH=5), followed by brine. The organic layer was separated and driedover Na2SO4. Solvent was removed with a rotavaporator to obtain thecrude product which was used in the next step without furtherpurification.

The moT Tosylate prepared above was mixed with propanolamine (1 g/10ml). The reaction mixture was then placed in an oven at 45° C. overnightfollowed by dilution with DCM (10 ml). An aqueous workup was performedby washing with 0.5 M citric acid buffer (pH=5), followed by brine. Theorganic layer was separated and dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removedwith a rotavaporator to obtain the crude product. The crude product wasanalyzed by NMR and HPLC and determined to be ready for the next stepwithout further purification.

The crude product was dissolved in DCM (2.5 ml DCM/g, 1 eq.) and mixedwith DIEA (3 eq.). This solution was cooled with dry ice-acetone andPOCl₃ was added dropwise (1.5 eq.). The resultant mixture was stirred atroom temperature overnight. An aqueous workup was performed by washingwith 0.5 M citric acid buffer (pH=5), followed by brine. The organiclayer was separated and dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed with arotavaporator to obtain the crude product as a yellowish solid. Thecrude product was purified by silica gel chromatography (crudeproduct/silica=1 to 5 ratio, gradient DCM to 50% EA/DCM), and fractionswere pooled according to TLC analysis. Solvent was removed to obtain thedesired product as a mixture of diastereomers. The purified product wasanalyzed by HPLC (NPP quench) and NMR (H-1 and P-31).

The diastereomeric mixture was separated according to the followingprocedure. The mixture (2.6 g) was dissolved in DCM. This sample wasloaded on a RediSepRf column (80 g normal phase made by Teledyne Isco)and eluted with 10% EA/DCM to 50% EA/DCM over 20 minutes. Fractions werecollected and analyzed by TLC. Fractions were pooled according to TLCanalysis, and solvent was removed with a rotavaporator at roomtemperature. The diastereomeric ratio of the pooled fractions wasdetermined by P-31 NMR and NPP-TFA analysis. If needed, the aboveprocedure was repeated until the diastereomeric ratio reached 97%.

Example 23 Global Cholic Acid Modification of PMOplus

The succinimide activated cholic acid derivative was prepared accordingto the following procedure. Cholic acid (12 g, 29.4 mmol),N-hydroxysuccinimide (4.0 g, 34.8 mmol), EDCI (5.6 g, 29.3 mmol), andDMAP (1 g, 8.2 mmol) were charged to a round bottom flask. DCM (400 ml)and THF (40 ml) were added to dissolve. The reaction mixture was stirredat room temperature overnight. Water (400 ml) was then added to thereaction mixture, the organic layer separated and washed with water(2×400 ml), followed by sat. NaHCO₃ (300 ml) and brine (300 ml). Theorganic layer was then dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed withrotavaporator to obtain a white solid. The crude product was dissolvedin chloroform (100 ml) and precipitated into heptane (1000 ml). Thesolid was collected by filtration, analyzed by HPLC and NMR and usedwithout further purification.

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (20 mg, 2.8 μmol) was weighed into avial (4 ml) and dissolved in DMSO (500 ul). The activated cholate ester(13 mg, 25 μmol) was added to the reaction mixture according to theratio of two equivalent of active ester per modification site followedby stirring at room temperature overnight. Reaction progress wasdetermined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 or SAX).

After the reaction was complete (as determined by disappearance ofstarting PMOplus), 1 ml of concentrated ammonia was added to thereaction mixture once the reaction is complete. The reaction vial wasthen placed in an oven (45° C.) overnight (18 hours) followed by coolingto room temperature and dilution with 1% ammonia in water (10 ml). Thissample was loaded on to an SPE column (2 cm), and the vial rinsed with1% ammonia solution (2×2 ml). The SPE column was washed with 1% ammoniain water (3×6 ml), and the product eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1%ammonia in water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identifiedby UV optical density measurement. Product was isolated bylyophilization. Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC(C-18 and/or SAX).

This same procedure is applicable to deoxycholic acid activation andconjugation to a PMO⁺.

Example 24 Global Guanidinylation of PMOplus

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (25 mg, 2.8 μmol) was weighed into avial (6 ml). 1H-Pyrozole-1-carboxamidine chloride (15 mg, 102 μmol) andpotassium carbonate (20 mg, 0.15 mmol) were added to the vial. Water wasadded (500 ul), and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperatureovernight (about 18 hours). Reaction completion was determined by MALDI.

Once complete, the reaction was diluted with 1% ammonia in water (10 ml)and loaded on to an SPE column (2 cm). The vial was rinsed with 1%ammonia solution (2×2 ml), and the SPE column was washed with 1% ammoniain water (3×6 ml). Product was eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1%ammonia in water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identifiedby UV optical density measurement. Product was isolated bylyophilization. Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC(C-18 and/or SAX).

Example 25 Global Thioacetyl Modification of PMOplus (M23D)

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (20 mg, 2.3 μmol) was weighed in to avial (4 ml) and dissolved in DMSO (500 ul).N-succinimidyl-S-acetylthioacetate (SATA) (7 mg, 28 lump was added tothe reaction mixture, and it was allowed to stir at room temperatureovernight. Reaction progress was monitored by MALDI and HPLC.

Once complete, 1% ammonia in water was added to the reaction mixture,and it was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. This solution wasloaded on to an SPE column (2 cm), The vial was rinsed with 1% ammoniasolution (2× 2 ml), and the SPE column was washed with 1% ammonia inwater (3× 6 ml). Product was eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1% ammoniain water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identified by UVoptical density measurement. Product was isolated by lyophilization.Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 and/or SAX).

Example 26 Global Succinic Acid Modification of PMOplus

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (32 mg, 3.7 μmol) was weighed in to avial (4 ml) and dissolved in DMSO (500 ul). N-ethyl morpholino (12 mg,100 mop and succinic anhydride (10 mg, 100 μmol) were added to thereaction mixture, and it was allowed to stir at room temperatureovernight. Reaction progress was monitored by MALDI and HPLC.

Once complete, 1% ammonia in water was added to the reaction mixture,and it was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. This solution wasloaded on to an SPE column (2 cm), The vial was rinsed with 1% ammoniasolution (2×2 ml), and the SPE column was washed with 1% ammonia inwater (3×6 ml). Product was eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1% ammoniain water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identified by UVoptical density measurement. Product was isolated by lyophilization.Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 and/or SAX).

The above procedure is applicable to glutartic acid (glutaric anhydride)and tetramethyleneglutaric acid (tetramethyleneglutaric anhydride)modification of PMOplus as well.

Example 27 Preparation of an Oligonucleotide Analogue Comprising aModified Terminal Group

To a solution of a 25-mer PMO containing a free 3′-end (27.7 mg, 3.226μmol) in DMSO (3004) was added farnesyl bromide (1.75 μl, 6.452 μmol)and diisopropylethylamine (2.24 μL, 12.9 μmol). The reaction mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 5 hours. The crude reaction mixture wasdiluted with 10 mL of 1% aqueous NH₄OH, and then loaded onto a 2 mLAmberchrome CG300M column. The column was then rinsed with 3 columnvolumes of water, and the product was eluted with 6 mL of 1:1acetonitrile and water (v/v). The solution was then lyophilized toobtain the title compound as a white solid.

Example 28 Preparation of Morpholino Oligomers

Preparation of trityl piperazine phenyl carbamate 35 (see FIG. 3): To acooled suspension of compound 11 in dichloromethane (6 mL/g 11) wasadded a solution of potassium carbonate (3.2 eq) in water (4 mL/gpotassium carbonate). To this two-phase mixture was slowly added asolution of phenyl chloroformate (1.03 eq) in dichloromethane (2 g/gphenyl chloroformate). The reaction mixture was warmed to 20° C. Uponreaction completion (1-2 hr), the layers were separated. The organiclayer was washed with water, and dried over anhydrous potassiumcarbonate. The product 35 was isolated by crystallization fromacetonitrile. Yield=80%

Preparation of carbamate alcohol 36: Sodium hydride (1.2 eq) wassuspended in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (32 mL/g sodium hydride). To thissuspension were added triethylene glycol (10.0 eq) and compound 35 (1.0eq). The resulting slurry was heated to 95° C. Upon reaction completion(1-2 hr), the mixture was cooled to 20° C. To this mixture was added 30%dichloromethane/methyl tert-butyl ether (v:v) and water. Theproduct-containing organic layer was washed successively with aqueousNaOH, aqueous succinic acid, and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. Theproduct 36 was isolated by crystallization from dichloromethane/methyltert-butyl ether/heptane. Yield=90%.

Preparation of Tail acid 37: To a solution of compound 36 intetrahydrofuran (7 mL/g 36) was added succinic anhydride (2.0 eq) andDMAP (0.5 eq). The mixture was heated to 50° C. Upon reaction completion(5 hr), the mixture was cooled to 20° C. and adjusted to pH 8.5 withaqueous NaHCO3. Methyl tert-butyl ether was added, and the product wasextracted into the aqueous layer. Dichloromethane was added, and themixture was adjusted to pH 3 with aqueous citric acid. Theproduct-containing organic layer was washed with a mixture of pH=3citrate buffer and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. Thisdichloromethane solution of 37 was used without isolation in thepreparation of compound 38.

Preparation of 38: To the solution of compound 37 was addedN-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imide (HONB) (1.02 eq),4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) (0.34 eq), and then1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) (1.1eq). The mixture was heated to 55° C. Upon reaction completion (4-5 hr),the mixture was cooled to 20° C. and washed successively with 1:1 0.2 Mcitric acid/brine and brine. The dichloromethane solution underwentsolvent exchange to acetone and then to N,N-dimethylformamide, and theproduct was isolated by precipitation from acetone/N,N-dimethylformamideinto saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The crude product was reslurriedseveral times in water to remove residual N,N-dimethylformamide andsalts. Yield=70% of 38 from compound 36. Introduction of the activated“Tail” onto the disulfide anchor-resin was performed in NMP by theprocedure used for incorporation of the subunits during solid phasesynthesis.

Preparation of the Solid Support for Synthesis of Morpholino Oligomers:This procedure was performed in a silanized, jacketed peptide vessel(custom made by ChemGlass, NJ, USA) with a coarse porosity (40-60 μm)glass frit, overhead stirrer, and 3-way Teflon stopcock to allow N2 tobubble up through the frit or a vacuum extraction. Temperature controlwas achieved in the reaction vessel by a circulating water bath.

The resin treatment/wash steps in the following procedure consist of twobasic operations: resin fluidization and solvent/solution extraction.For resin fluidization, the stopcock was positioned to allow N2 flow upthrough the frit and the specified resin treatment/wash was added to thereactor and allowed to permeate and completely wet the resin. Mixing wasthen started and the resin slurry mixed for the specified time. Forsolvent/solution extraction, mixing and N2 flow were stopped and thevacuum pump was started and then the stopcock was positioned to allowevacuation of resin treatment/wash to waste. All resin treatment/washvolumes were 15 mL/g of resin unless noted otherwise.

To aminomethylpolystyrene resin (100-200 mesh; ˜1.0 mmol/g N2substitution; 75 g, 1 eq, Polymer Labs, UK, part #1464-X799) in asilanized, jacketed peptide vessel was added 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone(NMP; 20 ml/g resin) and the resin was allowed to swell with mixing for1-2 hr. Following evacuation of the swell solvent, the resin was washedwith dichloromethane (2×1-2 min), 5% diisopropylethylamine in 25%isopropanol/dichloromethane (2×3-4 min) and dichloromethane (2×1-2 min).After evacuation of the final wash, the resin was fluidized with asolution of disulfide anchor 34 in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (0.17 M; 15mL/g resin, ˜2.5 eq) and the resin/reagent mixture was heated at 45° C.for 60 hr. On reaction completion, heating was discontinued and theanchor solution was evacuated and the resin washed with1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (4×3-4 min) and dichloromethane (6×1-2 min).The resin was treated with a solution of 10% (v/v) diethyl dicarbonatein dichloromethane (16 mL/g; 2×5-6 min) and then washed withdichloromethane (6×1-2 min). The resin 39 (see FIG. 4) was dried under aN2 stream for 1-3 hr and then under vacuum to constant weight (+2%).Yield: 110-150% of the original resin weight.

Determination of the Loading of Aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin:The loading of the resin (number of potentially available reactivesites) is determined by a spectrometric assay for the number oftriphenylmethyl (trityl) groups per gram of resin.

A known weight of dried resin (25±3 mg) is transferred to a silanized 25ml volumetric flask and ˜5 mL of 2% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid indichloromethane is added. The contents are mixed by gentle swirling andthen allowed to stand for 30 min. The volume is brought up to 25 mL withadditional 2% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane and thecontents thoroughly mixed. Using a positive displacement pipette, analiquot of the trityl-containing solution (500 μL) is transferred to a10 mL volumetric flask and the volume brought up to 10 mL withmethanesulfonic acid.

The trityl cation content in the final solution is measured by UVabsorbance at 431.7 nm and the resin loading calculated in trityl groupsper gram resin (μmol/g) using the appropriate volumes, dilutions,extinction coefficient (ε: 41 μmol-1 cm-1) and resin weight. The assayis performed in triplicate and an average loading calculated.

The resin loading procedure in this example will provide resin with aloading of approximately 500 μmol/g. A loading of 300-400 in μmol/g wasobtained if the disulfide anchor incorporation step is performed for 24hr at room temperature.

Tail loading: Using the same setup and volumes as for the preparation ofaminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin, the Tail can be introduced intothe molecule. For the coupling step, a solution of 38 (0.2 M) in NMPcontaining 4-ethylmorpholine (NEM, 0.4 M) was used instead of thedisulfide anchor solution. After 2 hr at 45° C., the resin 39 was washedtwice with 5% diisopropylethylamine in 25% isopropanol/dichloromethaneand once with DCM. To the resin was added a solution of benzoicanhydride (0.4 M) and NEM (0.4 M). After 25 min, the reactor jacket wascooled to room temperature, and the resin washed twice with 5%diisopropylethylamine in 25% isopropanol/dichloromethane and eight timeswith DCM. The resin 40 was filtered and dried under high vacuum. Theloading for resin 40 is defined to be the loading of the originalaminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin 39 used in the Tail loading.

Solid Phase Synthesis: Morpholino Oligomers were prepared on a GilsonAMS-422 Automated Peptide Synthesizer in 2 mL Gilson polypropylenereaction columns (Part #3980270). An aluminum block with channels forwater flow was placed around the columns as they sat on the synthesizer.The AMS-422 will alternatively add reagent/wash solutions, hold for aspecified time, and evacuate the columns using vacuum.

For oligomers in the range up to about 25 subunits in length,aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin with loading near 500 μmol/g ofresin is preferred. For larger oligomers,aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin with loading of 300-400 μmol/g ofresin is preferred. If a molecule with 5′-Tail is desired, resin thathas been loaded with Tail is chosen with the same loading guidelines.

The following reagent solutions were prepared:

Detritylation Solution: 10% Cyanoacetic Acid (w/v) in 4:1dichloromethane/acetonitrile; Neutralization Solution: 5%Diisopropylethylamine in 3:1 dichloromethane/isopropanol; CouplingSolution: 0.18 M (or 0.24 M for oligomers having grown longer than 20subunits) activated Morpholino Subunit of the desired base and linkagetype and 0.4 M N ethylmorpholine, in 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone.Dichloromethane (DCM) was used as a transitional wash separating thedifferent reagent solution washes.

On the synthesizer, with the block set to 42° C., to each columncontaining 30 mg of aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin (or Tailresin) was added 2 mL of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and allowed to sit atroom temperature for 30 min. After washing with 2 times 2 mL ofdichloromethane, the following synthesis cycle was employed:

Step Volume Delivery Hold time Detritylation 1.5 mL Manifold 15 secondsDetritylation 1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation 1.5 mL Manifold15 seconds Detritylation 1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation 1.5 mLManifold 15 seconds Detritylation 1.5 mL Manifold 15 secondsDetritylation 1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds DCM 1.5 mL Manifold 30 secondsNeutralization 1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization 1.5 mL Manifold30 seconds Neutralization 1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization 1.5mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization 1.5 mL Manifold 30 secondsNeutralization 1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds DCM 1.5 mL Manifold 30 secondsCoupling 350 uL-500 uL Syringe 40 minutes DCM 1.5 mL Manifold 30 secondsNeutralization 1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization 1.5 mL Manifold30 seconds DCM 1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds DCM 1.5 mL Manifold 30 secondsDCM 1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds

The sequences of the individual oligomers were programmed into thesynthesizer so that each column receives the proper coupling solution(A,C,G,T,I) in the proper sequence. When the oligomer in a column hadcompleted incorporation of its final subunit, the column was removedfrom the block and a final cycle performed manually with a couplingsolution comprised of 4-methoxytriphenylmethyl chloride (0.32 M in DMI)containing 0.89 M 4-ethylmorpholine.

Cleavage from the resin and removal of bases and backbone protectinggroups: After methoxytritylation, the resin was washed 8 times with 2 mL1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. One mL of a cleavage solution consisting of0.1 M 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) and 0.73 M triethylamine in1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone was added, the column capped, and allowed tosit at room temperature for 30 min. After that time, the solution wasdrained into a 12 mL Wheaton vial. The greatly shrunken resin was washedtwice with 3004 of cleavage solution. To the solution was added 4.0 mLconc aqueous ammonia (stored at −20° C.), the vial capped tightly (withTeflon lined screw cap), and the mixture swirled to mix the solution.The vial was placed in a 45° C. oven for 16-24 hr to effect cleavage ofbase and backbone protecting groups.

Initial Oligomer Isolation: The vialed ammonolysis solution was removedfrom the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. The solution wasdiluted with 20 mL of 0.28% aqueous ammonia and passed through a 2.5×10cm column containing Macroprep HQ resin (BioRad). A salt gradient (A:0.28% ammonia with B: 1 M sodium chloride in 0.28% ammonia; 0-100% B in60 min) was used to elute the methoxytrityl containing peak. Thecombined fractions were pooled and further processed depending on thedesired product.

Demethoxytritylation of Morpholino Oligomers: The pooled fractions fromthe Macroprep purification were treated with 1 M H3PO4 to lower the pHto 2.5. After initial mixing, the samples sat at room temperature for 4min, at which time they are neutralized to pH 10-11 with 2.8%ammonia/water. The products were purified by solid phase extraction(SPE).

Amberchrome CG-300M (Rohm and Haas; Philadelphia, Pa.) (3 mL) is packedinto 20 mL fritted columns (BioRad Econo-Pac Chromatography Columns(732-1011)) and the resin rinsed with 3 mL of the following: 0.28%NH4OH/80% acetonitrile; 0.5M NaOH/20% ethanol; water; 50 mM H3PO4/80%acetonitrile; water; 0.5 NaOH/20% ethanol; water; 0.28% NH4OH.

The solution from the demethoxytritylation was loaded onto the columnand the resin rinsed three times with 3-6 mL 0.28% aqueous ammonia. AWheaton vial (12 mL) was placed under the column and the product elutedby two washes with 2 mL of 45% acetonitrile in 0.28% aqueous ammonia.The solutions were frozen in dry ice and the vials placed in a freezedryer to produce a fluffy white powder. The samples were dissolved inwater, filtered through a 0.22 micron filter (Pall Life Sciences,Acrodisc 25 mm syringe filter, with a 0.2 micron HT Tuffryn membrane)using a syringe and the Optical Density (OD) was measured on a UVspectrophotometer to determine the OD units of oligomer present, as wellas dispense sample for analysis. The solutions were then placed back inWheaton vials for lyophilization.

Analysis of Morpholino Oligomers: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was usedto determine the composition of fractions in purifications as well asprovide evidence for identity (molecular weight) of the oligomers.Samples were run following dilution with solution of3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapinic acid),3,4,5-trihydoxyacetophenone (THAP) or alpha-cyano-4-hydoxycinnamic acid(HCCA) as matrices.

Cation exchange (SCX) HPLC was performed using a Dionex ProPac SCX-10,4×250 mm column (Dionex Corporation; Sunnyvale, Calif.) using 25 mM pH=5sodium acetate 25% acetonitrile (Buffer A) and 25 mM pH=5 sodium acetate25% acetonitrile 1.5 M potassium chloride (buffer B) (Gradient 10-100% Bin 15 min) or 25 mM KH2PO4 25% acetonitrile at pH=3.5 (buffer A) and 25mM KH2PO4 25% acetonitrile at pH=3.5 with 1.5 M potassium chloride(buffer B) (Gradient 0-35% B in 15 min). The former system was used forpositively charged oligomers that do not have a peptide attached, whilethe latter was used for peptide conjugates.

Purification of Morpholino Oligomers by Cation Exchange Chromatography:The sample is dissolved in 20 mM sodium acetate, pH=4.5 (buffer A) andapplied to a column of Source 30 cation exchange resin (GE Healthcare)and eluted with a gradient of 0.5 M sodium chloride in 20 mM sodiumacetate and 40% acetonitrile, pH=4.5 (buffer B). The pooled fractionscontaining product are neutralized with cone aqueous ammonia and appliedto an Amberchrome SPE column. The product is eluted, frozen, andlyophilized as above.

Example 29 Preparation of an Exemplary Conjugate

The peptide sequence AcR₆G was prepared according to standard peptidesynthetic methods known in the art. To a solution of the PMO(NG-05-0225, 3′-H: M23D: 5′-EG3, a sequence for binding to exon 23 ofthe mdx mouse, 350 mg, 1 eq), AcR6G (142 mg, 2 eq), HATU (31 mg, 2 eq)in DMSO (3 mL) was added diisopropylethylamine (36 μL, 5 eq) at roomtemperature. After 1 hour, the reaction was worked up and the desiredpeptide-oligomer conjugate was purified by SCX chromatography (elutingwith a gradient: A: 20 mM NaH2PO4 in 25% acetonitrile/H2O, pH 7.0; B:1.5 M guanidine HCl and 20 mM NaH2PO4 in 25% acetonitrile/H2O, pH 7.0).The combined fractions were subjected to solid phase extraction (1MNaCl, followed by water elution). The conjugate was obtained as a whitepowder (257 mg, 65.5% yield) after lyophilization.

Example 30 Treatment of MDX Mice with Exemplary Conjugates of theInvention

The MDX mouse is an accepted and well-characterized animal model forDuchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) containing a mutation in exon 23 of thedystrophin gene. The M23D antisense sequence (SEQ ID NO:15) is known toinduce exon 23 skipping and restoration of functional dystrophinexpression. MDX mice were dosed once (50 mg/kg) by tail vein injectionwith one of the following conjugates:

1. 5′-EG3-M23D-BX(RXRRBR)₂ (AVI5225);

2. 5′-EG3-M23D-G(R)₅ (NG-11-0045);

3. 5′-EG3-M23D-G(R)₆ (NG-11-0009);

4. 5′-EG3-M23D-G(R)₇ (NG-11-0010); or

5. 5′-EG3-M23D-G(R)₈ (NG-11-0216)

wherein M23D is a morpholino olionucleotide having the sequenceGGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT (SEQ ID NO: 15) and “EG3” refers to thefollowing structure:

linked to the 5′ end of the oligomer via a piperazine linker (i.e.,structure XXIX).

One week post-injection, the MDX mice were sacrificed and RNA wasextracted from various muscle tissues. End-point PCR was used todetermine the relative abundance of dystrophin mRNA containing exon 23and mRNA lacking exon 23 due to antisense-induced exon skipping. Percentexon 23 skipping is a measure of antisense activity in vivo. FIGS. 5 and6 show shows the results from the quadriceps (QC, FIGS. 5A and 6A),diaphragm (DT, FIGS. 5B and 6B) and heart (HT, FIGS. 5C and 6C),respectively one week post-treatment. The dose response between AVI-5225and the other conjugates was similar. Amongst the arginine series, theR₆G peptide has the highest efficacy in quadriceps and diaphragm and wassimilar to the other arginine series peptides in heart.

Example 31 BUN Levels and Survival Rates of Mice Treated with ExemplaryConjugates

Mice were treated with the conjugates described in Example 30, and KIM-1levels, BUN levels and survival rate were determined according to thegeneral procedures described in Example 32 below and known in the art.Surprisingly, FIG. 7A shows that all glycine linked conjugates hadsignificantly lower BUN levels than the XB linked conjugate (AVI-5225).In addition, mice treated with glycine linked conjugates survived longerat higher doses than the XB linked conjugate (FIG. 7B), with the R₈Gconjugate being the least tolerated of the arginine polymers. All micetreated with the R₆G conjugate (NG-11-0009) survived at doses up to 400mg/kg (data not shown).

The KIM-1 (FIG. 8A) and Clusterin (FIG. 8B) levels of mice treated withthe glycine linked conjugates was significantly lower than mice treatedwith AVI-5225. This data indicates that the conjugates of the presentinvention have lower toxicity than prior conjugates, and as shown abovein Example 30, the efficacy of the conjugates is not decreased.

Accordingly, the present conjugates have a better therapeutic windowthan other known conjugates and are potentially better drug candidates.

Example 32 Toxicology of Exemplary Conjugates

Four exemplary conjugates of the invention were tested for theirtoxicology in mice. The conjugates were as follows:

1. 5′-EG3-M23D-BX(RXRRBR)₂ (AVI5225);

2. 5′-EG3-M23D-G(RXRRBR)₂ (NG-11-0654);

3. 5′-EG3-M23D-BX(R)₆ (NG-11-0634); and

4. 5′-EG3-M23D-G(R)₆ (NG-11-0009)

wherein M23D is a morpholino oligonucleotide having the sequenceGGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT and “EG3” refers to the following structure:

linked to the 5′ end of the oligomer via a piperazine linker (i.e.,structure XXIX).

Eight week old male mice (C57/BL6; Jackson Laboratories, 18-22 grams)were treated with the above conjugates formulated in saline. The micewere acclimated for a minimum of five days prior to the commencement ofthe experimental procedures.

The animals were housed up to 3 per cage in clear polycarbonatemicroisolator cages with certified irradiated contact bedding. The cagesconformed to standards set forth in the Animal Welfare Act (with allamendments) and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2010.

Animals were randomized into treatment groups based on cage weightsspecified in the table below. Group allocation was documented in thestudy records.

TABLE 8 Toxicology Study Design Group Dose per injection Route of n = 3Oligo (mg/kg) Regimen Admin. 1 NG-11-0654 50 Single Tail Vein, i.v. 2NG-11-0654 100 injection 200 μl 3 NG-11-0654 150 4 NG-11-0654 200 5NG-11-0634 50 6 NG-11-0634 100 7 NG-11-0634 150 8 NG-11-0634 200 9NG-11-0009 50 10 NG-11-0009 100 11 NG-11-0009 150 12 NG-11-0009 200 13AVI-5225 25 14 AVI-5225 50 15 AVI-5225 100 16 Vehicle 0

The day of dosing on the study was designated as Study Day 1. Conjugatewas administered via tail vein as a slow push bolus (˜5 seconds). Allanimals were dosed over two days. Groups 1-8 were dosed on the first dayand Groups 9-16 were dosed on the second day. Treatment Groups (TG)13-16 were dosed per the table above. Results from these TGs did notaffect progression to other TG. The first 2 TG of each conjugate weredosed per the table above. If all animals in 100 mg/kg group died thenthe remaining TGs of that test article would not be dosed and the studywould end. If at least one animal survived 2 hours post-dose in the 100mg/kg group, then the 150 mg/kg group was dosed. If all animals in the150 mg/kg group died then the remaining TGs of that test article wouldnot be dosed and the study would end. If at least one animal survived 2hours post-dose in the 150 mg/kg group, then the 200 mg/kg group wasdosed.

Animals were observed for moribundity and mortality once daily. Anyanimal showing signs of distress, particularly if death appearedimminent was humanely euthanized according to Numira BiosciencesStandard Operating Procedures. Body weights were recorded on the dayafter arrival, the day of dosing, and the day of necropsy. Detailedclinical observations were conducted and recorded at 0 minutes, 15minutes, and 2 hours post-dose to assess tolerability of injections.

Blood samples (maximum volume, approximately 1 mL) were obtained fromall animals via cardiac puncture 3 days post-dose prior to necropsy.Blood samples were collected into red top microtainer tubes and held atroom temperature for at least 30 minutes but no longer than 60 minutesprior to centrifugation. Samples were centrifuged at approximately1500-2500 rpm for 15-20 minutes to obtain serum.

Animals unlikely to survive until the next scheduled observation wereweighed and euthanized. Animals found dead were weighed and the time ofdeath was estimated as closely as possible. Blood and tissue sampleswere not collected.

Day 3 (2 days post-dose), all animals were humanely euthanized withcarbon dioxide. Euthanasia was performed in accordance with acceptedAmerican Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines on Euthanasia,June 2007.

The partial gross necropsy included examination and documentation offindings. All external surfaces and orifices were evaluated. Allabnormalities observed during the collection of the tissues weredescribed completely and recorded. No additional tissues were taken.

The right and left kidneys were collected. Tissues were collected within15 minutes or less of euthanasia. All instruments and tools used werechanged between treatment groups. All tissues were flash frozen andstored at <−70° C. as soon as possible after collection.

Kidney injury marker data was obtained as follows. RNA from mouse kidneytissue was purified using Quick Gene Mini80 Tissue Kit SII (Fuji Film).Briefly, approximately 40 mg of tissue was added to 0.5 ml lysis buffer(5 μl 2-mercaptoethanol in 0.5 ml lysis buffer) in a MagnaLyser GreenBead vial (Roche) and homogenized using MagNA Lyser (Roche) with 2 setsof 3×3800 RPM and 3 sets of 1× 6500 RPM. Samples were cooled on ice 3-4minutes between each low speed set and between each higher speed run.Homogenates were centrifuged 5 minute at 400×g at room temperature. Thehomogenate was immediately processed for RNA purification according tothe Quick Gene Mini80 protocol. Samples underwent an on-column DNAdigestion with DNase I (Qiagen) for 5 minutes. Total RNA was quantitatedwith a NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific).

qRT-PCR was performed using Applied Biosystems reagents (One-stepRT-PCR) and pre-designed primer/probe sets (ACTB, GAPDH, KIM-1,Clusterin—FAM reporter)

Reagent Company Cat. No. One-step PCR kit Applied Biosystems 4309169GAPDH mouse primer/probe Applied Biosystems 4352932E set KIM-1 mouseprimer/probe Applied Biosystems Mm00506686_m1 set

Each reaction contained the following (30 ul total):

15 ul 2×qRT-PCR Buffer from ABI One-Step Kit

1.5 ul Primer/Probe mix

8.75 ul Nuclease-free water

0.75 ul 40× multiscript+RNase inhibitor

4 ul RNA template (100 ng/ul)

The qRT One-Step Program was run as follows:

1. 48 C for 30 minutes

2. 95 C for 10 minutes

3. 95 C for 15 seconds

4. 60 C for 1 minute

5. Repeat Steps 3-4 39 times for a total of 40 cycles

Samples were run in triplicate wells and averaged for further analysis.Analysis was performed using ΔΔCt method. Briefly, Experimental ΔCt[Ct(Target)−Ct(Reference)] subtracted by Control ΔCt[Ct(Target)−Ct(Reference)]=ΔΔCt. Fold change range calculated:2^−(ΔΔCt+SD) to 2^−(ΔΔCt-SD). Control=vehicle treated animal group(pooled), Target=KIM-1; Reference=GAPDH;SD=Sqrt[(SDtarget^2)+(SDref^2)].

Results of KIM data are shown in FIG. 10. Conjugates comprising carrierpeptides with terminal glycines had lower KIM concentrations with theR₆G peptide having the lowest. Both the terminal G and the presence ofunnatural amino acids (aminohexanoic acid) appear to play a role in thetoxicity of the conjugates.

Frozen serum samples were sent on dry ice to IDEXX Laboratories (WestSacramento, Calif.) for processing. Serum dilution was performed perIDEXX Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when necessary. Bloodchemistry results were analyzed. Blood urea nitrogen levels are shown inFIG. 11. Again, the G-linked conjugate had lower BUN levels and the boththe terminal G and overall peptide sequence appear to play a role in thetoxicological profile of the conjugates.

Kidney tissues (approx. 150 mg) were weighed accurately in a 2 mL screwcap vial partially filled with ceramic beads. Five volume parts TissuePE LB buffer (G Biosciences) containing 10 U/mL Proteinase K (Sigma)were added to 1 part tissue. Samples were homogenized with a RocheMagnaLyser (4×40 sec @ 7,000 rpm, with cooling between runs) andincubated for 30 min at 40° C. When required, tissue homogenates werediluted with BSAsal (3 mg/mL BSA+20 mM NaCl) to bring high sampleconcentrations into the calibration range.

Calibration samples were prepared by spiking a solution of 3 mg/mL ofBSA in 20 mM NaCl with known amounts of an appropriate analyticalreference standard. Duplicate sets of eight samples each were prepared.The ULOQ was 40 μg/mL and LLOQ was 0.065536 μg/mL. An internal standard(NG-07-0775) was added to all samples except some blank samplesdesignated as double blanks (no drug, no internal standard). Sampleswere extracted by vortexing 100 μL aliquots with 3 volumes of methanol.

After centrifugation (15 min, 14,000 rpm) supernatants were transferredto new tubes and dried in a Speedvac. Dried samples were reconstitutedwith an appropriate amount of FDNA (5′ d FAM-ATTTCAGGTAAGCCGAGGTTTGGCC3′) in [10 mM Tris pH 8.0+1 mM EDTA+100 mM NaCl]−acetonitrile (75-25).

Samples were analyzed on the Dionex UltiMate 3000 HPLC usinganion-exchange chromatography (Dionex DNAPac 4×250 mm column). Injectionvolume was 5 μL. Mobile phase was composed of 20% acetonitrile and 80%water containing 25 mM Tris pH 8.0 and a gradient of increasing NaClconcentration. Flow rate was 1 mL/min, and run time was 10 min persample. The fluorescence detector was set to EX 494 nm and EM 520 nm.Peak identification was based on retention time. Peak height ratios(analyte:internal standard) were used for quantitation. Calibrationcurves were calculated based on the averaged response factors ofduplicate calibration samples (one set run at the beginning of thebatch, the other at the end of the batch. Linear curve fit with 1/xweighting factor was used. Blank samples (calibration sample with noreference compound added) and double blank samples (on internal standardadded) were used to ensure assay specificity and absence of carryover.

FIG. 12 shows that kidney concentrations were similar amongst the testedconjugates.

The above data shows that conjugates of the invention have similarefficacy and improved toxicity compared to other conjugates. FIGS. 9A-Dsummarizes these results with respect to an R₆G conjugate (NG-11-0009).

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments inlight of the above-detailed description. In general, in the followingclaims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims tothe specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims,but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A conjugate comprising: (a) a carrierpeptide comprising amino acid subunits, the carrier peptide comprising aproline amino acid at the carboxy terminus of the carrier peptide; and(b) a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide comprising asubstantially uncharged backbone and a targeting base sequence forsequence-specific binding to a target nucleic acid; and (c) a covalentattachment between the nucleic acid analog and the carrier peptide, thecovalent attachment comprising the carboxy-terminal proline and anoptional linker group; wherein: two or more of the amino acid subunitsare positively charged amino acids, no more than seven contiguous aminoacid subunits are arginine, and the carrier peptide is covalentlyattached to the nucleic acid analogue, the covalent attachment betweenthe nucleic acid analog and the carrier peptide is not 6-aminohexanoicacid or β-alanine.
 2. The conjugate of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe positively charged amino acids is arginine.
 3. The conjugate ofclaim 1, wherein each of the positively charged amino acids is arginine.4. The conjugate of claim 1, wherein all of the amino acid subunits,except the carboxy terminal proline are positively charged amino acids.5. The conjugate of claim 1, wherein the carrier peptide comprises thesequence (R^(d))_(m), wherein R^(d) is independently, at eachoccurrence, a positively charged amino acid and m is an integer rangingfrom 2 to
 12. 6. The conjugate of claim 5, wherein each R^(d) isarginine.
 7. The conjugate of claim 1, wherein each amino acid subunit,except the carboxy terminal proline, is arginine.
 8. The conjugate ofclaim 1, wherein the carrier peptide comprises at least one hydrophobicamino acid, the hydrophobic amino acid comprising a substituted orunsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or aralkyl side chainwherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl side chain includes at most oneheteroatom for every six carbon atoms.
 9. The conjugate of claim 1,wherein the carrier peptide comprises at least one neutral amino acidhaving the following structure (Y^(b)):—C(O)—(CHR^(e))_(n)—NH—(Y^(b)) wherein n is 2 to 7 and each R^(e) isindependently, at each occurrence, hydrogen or methyl.
 10. The conjugateof claim 1, wherein each of the amino acid subunits are natural aminoacids.
 11. The conjugate of claim 1, wherein the uncharged backbonecomprises a sequence of morpholino ring structures joined byintersubunit linkages, the intersubunit linkages joining a 3′-end of onemorpholino ring structure to a 5′-end of an adjacent morpholino ringstructure, wherein each morpholino ring structure is bound to abase-pairing moiety, such that the oligonucleotide can bind in asequence-specific manner to the target nucleic acid, wherein theintersubunit linkages have the following general structure (I):

or a salt or isomer thereof, and wherein each of the intersubunitlinkages (I) are independently linkage (A) or linkage (B): wherein forlinkage (A): W is, at each occurrence, independently S or 0; X is, ateach occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R², or —OR³;

Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR²; R¹ is, at eachoccurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl; R² is, at each occurrence,independently hydrogen or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; R³ is, at each occurrence,independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R⁴ is, at each occurrence,independently hydrogen, methyl, —C(═NH)NH₂, —Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or—[C(O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z is carbonyl (C(O)) or a direct bond, R′ is aside chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbonhomolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6; R⁵ is, at each occurrence,independently hydrogen, methyl or an electron pair; R⁶ is, at eachoccurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl; R⁷ is, at each occurrence,independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl; and L is anoptional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising alkyl, alkoxy oralkylamino groups, or combinations thereof, wherein for linkage (B): Wis, at each occurrence, independently S or O; X is, at each occurrence,independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; Y is, at each occurrence, independently Oor —NR¹⁰; R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂alkyl; R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl,C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl; R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independentlyhydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to forma 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may joinwith R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is4-piperazino, X has the following structure (III):

wherein: R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; Ris, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair, hydrogen orC₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen,C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵,C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, oxo, —CN, trifluoro methyl, amidyl, amidinyl,amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl,guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl,heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, ateach occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl.
 12. The conjugate of claim11, wherein at least one of the morpholino ring structures has thefollowing structure (i):

wherein Pi is, at each occurrence, independently a base-pairing moiety.13. The conjugate of claim 11, wherein each linkage is linkage (A) and Xis —N(CH₃)₂.
 14. The conjugate of claim 11, wherein W and Y are each Oat each occurrence.
 15. The conjugate of claim 11, wherein the nucleicacid analogue has the following structure (XVII):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein: R¹⁷ is, at each occurrence,independently absent, hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are, at eachoccurrence, independently absent, hydrogen, the carrier peptide, C₂-C₃₀alkylcarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹ or R²⁰; R²⁰ is, at each occurrence,independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl,C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl,C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂; R²¹ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl comprising oneor more ether bonds, hydroxyl moieties or combinations thereof; each R²²is independently C⁶-C¹² aryloxy; Pi is a base-pairing moiety; L¹ and L²are each a direct bond or a linker up to 18 atoms in length comprisingbonds selected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide, ester,carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate, pho sphoroamidate, phosphorothioate and phosphodiester; x is an integer of 0 or greater; andwherein both of R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are not absent and at least one of R¹⁸ orR¹⁹ is the carrier peptide.
 16. The conjugate of claim 15, wherein R¹⁸is the carrier peptide.
 17. The conjugate of claim 15, wherein R¹⁹ isthe carrier peptide.
 18. The conjugate of claim 15, wherein R¹⁹ is


19. The conjugate of claim 15, wherein L¹ has the following structure(XXIX):

wherein R²⁴ is absent, H or C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 20. The conjugate of claim 15,wherein R¹⁸ is the carrier peptide, L² is a direct bond, and the carrierpeptide forms a bond between the carboxy terminus of the carrier peptideand the 3′ terminal nitrogen of the nucleic acid analogue.